The List's Guide to Scotland's Festivals 2020

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THE GUIDE TO

SCOTLAND’S FESTIVALS 2020

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THE GUIDE TO SCOTLAND’S FESTIVALS 2020

MANIPULATE FESTIVAL Puppet Animation Scotland collates a collection of world-class animation, puppetry and related performing arts of all styles and techniques. See page 27, manipulatefestival.org PHOTO: BEN SHAKESPEARE PHOTOGRAPHY

ISLAY FESTIVAL OF MUSIC AND MALT The Islay Festival (or ‘Fèis Ìle’ as it’s called in Gaelic) celebrates 36 years of fun with distillery tours, live music, poetry, piping and plenty more. See page 53, islayfestival.com PHOTO: STEVIE POWERS/RECOMPOSE

Welcome to the tenth edition of The Guide to Scotland’s Festivals. This year we’re diving in to the Year of Coasts and Waters 2020, Scotland’s celebratory themed year which will see a wideranging and far-reaching programme of events and festivals take place across the country.

From Glasgow Canal Festival to StAnza, from the Scottish Traditional Boat Festival to the Skye Festival, there’s a treasure trove of inspiring events just waiting to be discovered. Brand new festivals making their debut for 2020 include Dumbarton Festival River Town, North Ayrshire’s Making Waves and the Isle Martin Seaweed Festival.

Established festivals are also getting on board: Celtic Connections, Edinburgh Science Festival, Glasgow International and the Edinburgh International Film Festival have curated special programmes which will explore and showcase Scotland’s coasts and waters.

Other special events to look out for this year include Arbroath 2020 (a festival celebrating the 700th anniversary of the Declaration of Arbroath) and the UEFA Festival, for which Glasgow will house a special celebration of arts, culture, music and sport alongside its part in helping to host the UEFA EURO 2020 football tournament.

VisitScotland and Creative Scotland are proud to support this publication and recognise the important role festivals play in the country’s cultural life.

PHOTO: GARETH EASTON

FOREWORD

DOUNE THE RABBIT HOLE A boutique music festival that produces a strong line-up of music, theatre, comedy and spoken-word performances in a great setting outside Stirling. See page 63, dounetherabbithole.co.uk 2

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2020 THE GUIDE TO SCOTLAND’S FESTIVALS

PHOTO: JEAN LOUIS FERNANDEZ

PHOTO: JULIA BAUER

GLASGOW INTERNATIONAL Festival of contemporary art commissioned from artists around the globe and including exhibitions in traditional galleries as well as unique site-specific installations. See page 43, glasgowinternational.org

EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN’S FESTIVAL This festival of performing arts for children presents dance, stories and puppetry, ideal for anyone with imagination. See page 49, imaginate.org.uk/festival PHOTO: BORDERS BOOK FESTIVAL

WILDHOOD

BORDERS BOOK FESTIVAL

An outdoor children’s festival that celebrates nature, games, folklore, history, traditional arts & crafts, dance and music in a lovely location. See page 55, wildhoodfestival.com

Taking place in the National Trust’s Georgian Harmony Garden, the Borders Book Festival attracts world-class literary figures and household names.

See page 59, bordersbookfestival.org PHOTO: RYAN BUCHANAN

PHOTO: JETHRO OPTICAL

KELBURN GARDEN PARTY

SKYE LIVE

Kelburn Castle provides the fairytale setting for this music festival featuring an eclectic mix of Scottish talent from the avant garde to the highly accessible.

See page 66, kelburngardenparty.com

Two-day music festival on Skye offering a fusion of genres, with traditional music, bands, DJs and dance acts, along with excellent food and drink courtesy of the isle’s finest foodies. See page 76, skyelive.co.uk 3

THE GUIDE TO SCOTLAND’S FESTIVALS 2020

Project Editor: Murray Robertson

HOW TO USE THIS GUIDE

Designers: Lucy Munro, Seonaid Rafferty Sub Editor: Brian Donaldson Publishing Director: Sheri Friers Contributors: Kelly Apter, Deborah Chu, Paul Dale, Ashley Davies, Brian Donaldson, Megan Forsyth, Katharine Gemmell, Julia Kajdi, Sofia Matias, Rowena McIntosh, Henry Northmore, David Pollock, Arusa Qureshi, Murray Robertson

DATE NAME OF FESTIVAL CANADA GOES GLASGOW PARTNER

Advertising: Rachel Cree, Ross Foley, Brendan Miles, Debbie Thompson, Jakob Van den Berg

16 JANUARY–2 FEBRUARY

CEO: Simon Dessain

CELTIC CONNECTIONS MUSIC Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow, celticconnections.com

Publisher: Robin Hodge

LOCATION & WEBSITE

COVER IMAGE: Tiree Music Festival, see page 63.

Published by The List Ltd HEAD OFFICE 14 High Street, Edinburgh EH1 1TE Tel: 0131 550 3050 www.list.co.uk email festivals@list.co.uk

CATEGORY

Glasgow’s annual folk, roots, indie, world and traditional music festival celebrates the links between Celtic music and cultures across the globe. The 2020 festival hosts the likes of Roddy Hart, Karine Polwart and a tribute to Bruce ‘The Boss’ Springsteen.

FESTIVAL DESCRIPTION

ISSN: 2054-8036 © 2020 The List Ltd All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission in writing of The List Ltd. This edition published January 2020 Printed by Acorn Web Offset Ltd.

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DISCLAIMER : The List magazine has made every effort to ensure information published in this guide is correct. Line-ups, times and dates can change at short notice, however, so please check with the festival before attending. The publisher cannot accept responsibility for any errors the guide may contain. For up-to-date listings information go to list.co.uk. Festival organisers can get in touch at festivals@list.co.uk.

LIST.CO.UK/FESTIVALS

CANADA GOES GLASGOW Learn more about Canadian events and shows in Glasgow across 2020 The eagle-eyed among you may have started to notice a little red maple leaf appearing alongside listings and in brochures, highlighting some of the many cultural events happening in Glasgow this year. This icon shines a light on the wonderful Canadian talent that lives within and visits your city each year, which we are celebrating in 2020 as part of our year-long programme, Canada Goes Glasgow.

Representing the magnificently diverse and creative communities across Canada from coast to coast to coast, the programme will draw attention to the strong connections that Canada and the UK share, which are rooted in a common history and shared values.

Keep an eye out for the maple leaf icon in 2020 and share your experiences of attending a Canadian show or a gig by tagging us and using the hashtag #CanadaGoesGlasgow

#CanadaGoesGlasgow

THE GUIDE TO SCOTLAND’S FESTIVALS 2020

FESTIVAL CHECKLIST 1

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R-CUP A5 RECYCLED NOTEBOOK Keep on top of all your festival commitments and give new life to old coffee cups with this stylish notebook.

Price: £4 Stockist: remarkable.co.uk

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HARLEQUIN RAINBOW BUM BAG Formerly a bouncy castle, this is waterproof, fully adjustable and has six additional pockets.

Price: £45 Stockist: wyattandjack.com

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BELL TENT MATS These tent mats are made from discarded plastic straws and will make your camping more colourful (and waterproof).

Price: £50–£95 Stockist: lifeundercanvas.co.uk

BAMBOO WATCH – SILVER ANJI – 37MM Elegant, trendy and splash resistant: this bamboo watch will make sure you never miss your train, show or concert.

Price: £80 Stockist: mabboo.com

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2020 THE GUIDE TO SCOTLAND’S FESTIVALS

Looking for an essential guide to the products that will keep you festivalling all year long while still caring for the climate?Julia Kajdi and Sofia Matias give us the eco-lowdown 3

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RECYCLED WOOL BLANKET Conquer the frosty Scottish weather by wrapping yourself up in one of these cosy (and eco-friendly) blankets.

Price: £40 Stockist: tartanblanketco.com

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CORK FABRIC TRAVEL UTENSIL SET Say no to single-use plastic by taking this bamboo cutlery set everywhere you go.

Price: £13 Stockist: greentulip.co.uk

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ZERO WASTE STARTER KIT This stylish kit comes with a bamboo water bottle, coffee cup and straws in a paper bag backpack.

Price: £55 Stockist: wearthlondon.com

ECO-TOOTHBRUSH & CASE RAINBOW You’ll never forget your toothbrush with this cute and eco-friendly bamboo set.

Price: £6 Stockist: bananaindustries.co.uk

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Every y e n r u o j starts a story with Caledonian

MacBrayne

CalMac have 29 destinations to choose from and options of travelling by foot, bike or car – enjoy short breaks, day trips and longer islandhopping adventures. Set sail and start your story today.

Adventure seekers

Paddleboard on Gigha, take the family to the beautiful Ben More, experience the serenity of whale watching, bike around Bute, Kayak on the waters of Rum, camp by immaculate beaches on Canna – whatever your adventure, immerse yourself in magnificent nature on the west coast.

Tickets can be booked and journeys planned at calmac.co.uk CFL_The List DPS Jan_2020.indd 6

13/01/2020 11:11

Festivals

Explore Scotland’s incredible waters on the way to your next festival.

Discover music festivals on Bute, Lewis and Tiree, a week of music and malts on Islay, a mountain festival on Harris and many more cultural gatherings with CalMac. Sail in and out with ease!

Feed your passions

Combine unspoilt landscapes and local produce on a voyage of culinary discovery.

World-class restaurants on the Isle of Skye, Gigha and beyond, and the Eat Drink Hebrides Trail provide a snapshot of what the west coast has to offer.

CFL_The List DPS Jan_2020.indd 7

13/01/2020 11:11

THE GUIDE TO SCOTLAND’S FESTIVALS 2020

WATER WATER EVERYWHERE As Scotland prepares to celebrate the Year of Coasts and Waters, Ashley Davies pops on her sea legs and tells us how to soak up all the excitement

I

t makes a lot of sense for Scotland to be crowning 2020 the Year of Coasts and Waters.

Rivers, lochs, beaches, harbours and burns are among this country’s many outstanding features: the mainland boasts nearly 10,000km of coastline, we have 790 offshore islands, and many thousands of people make their living through the water, whether that’s in fishing, boating, shipping or the production of world-famous drinks. So when we rave about the importance of water we’re not talking about something that’s designed purely for tourism: these are important aspects of life for many in Scotland, and those resources are being celebrated in a number of top festivals through the year.

Kick off your spring on the Queen of the Hebrides with a celebration of music and whisky at the Islay Festival of Music and Malt (22–30 May). All the famous distilleries open their doors to visitors for talks, tastings and the odd special tipple, and across Islay you’ll find ceilidhs, poetry, food and other fun ways to learn more about island life.

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With stunning views of the Firth of Forth and its numerous islands, North Berwick’s Scottish Seabird Centre plays host to Marine Fest (1–30 Jun), a celebration of Scotland’s extraordinary marine environment and wildlife. Events throughout the month include rock pooling, guided walks, crafts, activities and interactive science shows.

The increasingly good Clydebuilt Festival (19 & 20 Sep) is packed with fun events, on both water and land. The former includes the 13-mile Castle to Crane rowing race, a small craft regatta, a chance to check out some dragon boats, plus a canoe and coracle taster sessions. The dry land fun includes sea shanties, food and drink, markets and a big old afterparty.

This year brand new festival Dumbarton Festival River Town (4–7 Jun) features music, arts and recreational events. The historic town has an indelible maritime connection which will be marked by artists, companies, local schools and community groups with a programme themed around Build, Float and Connect.

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2020 THE GUIDE TO SCOTLAND’S FESTIVALS

Another new festival for 2020 is Making Waves (18 & 19 Jul), a family-oriented

weekend shindig celebrating the long tradition of Scotland’s seaside entertainment but with a modern bent. Expect music, arts, performances and activities taking place on and off the water and centred around the long sandy beach and harbourside of Irvine, with the Isle of Arran acting as the perfect backdrop.

This year’s Scotland’s Boat Show takes place in Inverkip (9–11 Oct) and is part of the River of Light (10 Oct), a new event which involves communities along the River Clyde and beyond decorating their own vessels with lights and other visuals. The illuminated boats will gather off shore at Kip Marina, where there will also be food and drink, a torchlight procession and family entertainment.

Heading up to the north-west, The Skye Festival/Feis an Eilein (3–12 Jul) returns with a new look especially devised for the Year of Coasts and Waters. Taking place across the entire island, this ten-day extravaganza explores relationships between the area’s rivers, glens and dramatic coastline with a broad programme of music, theatre, dance, literature and community events.

The East Neuk Festival (1–5 Jul), meanwhile, is a wider celebration of music – from folk, world and jazz to contemporary, choral and electronic – as well as visual art, literature and more. It

PHOTO: PAUL CAMPBELL

PHOTO: BEN SHAKESPEARE PHOTOGRAPHY

From top left clockwise: The Skye Festival, Findhorn Bay Festival, Fringe by the Sea, Islay Festival of Music and Malt

all takes place in an interesting range of venues in this particular pocket of Fife, from a former nuclear bunker to a scout hut and RAF base.

Another arts festival that gets better every year is Fringe by the Sea (7–16 Aug), which takes place in the East Lothian seaside town of North Berwick. It features big-name music, comedy and literary acts who are playing up the road at the Edinburgh Festival, as well as some more local acts. Spiegeltents are erected at the harbour, and there’s always something for all ages. Have a blissful stroll along the beach and tuck in to some fresh lobster and chips while you’re there.

Squeeze out the last few drops of summer by heading to the exquisite Moray for the awardwinning biennial Findhorn Bay Festival (23– 28 Sep), which features 125 different events this year, including the divine folk music of the Karine Polwart Trio and Duncan Chisholm: The Gathering, while plenty other arts and cultural treats abound for all ages. There are some truly breathtaking beaches in this part of the world, and you’d be well advised to book extra time for exploring if you’re heading this way.

And for something completely different, check out the Largs Viking Festival (29 Aug–6 Sep) in North Ayrshire. It marks the final mainland battle between the Scots and the Norse, with highlights including the ceremonial burning of a longboat at sea, a Viking skirmish, a festival of fire and a torchlit parade.

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THE GUIDE TO SCOTLAND’S FESTIVALS 2020

A WALK ON THE WILD SIDE Scotland’s rugged landscape is the perfect playground for outdoor pursuits.

Rowena McIntosh explores festivals dedicated to surfing coastlines, racing trails, hiking hills and enjoying nature

T

aking place on the most westerly island of the Inner Hebrides,

Newton Stewart Walking Festival

the Tiree Wave Classic (10–16 Oct) is the world’s longest-running professional windsurfing event. As well as watching the pros from Tiree’s beaches, visitors can windsurf and paddle board, before sampling some evening social events.

For land-based thrills, Muckle Toon Adventure Festival (19–21 Jun)

offers an adventure-filled weekend with trail races for runners, a summit challenge series for hikers, and mountain bike races for those on two wheels. Events start at Langholm Rugby Club, where there’s a kids zone, climbing wall and live music.

For youngsters, Wildhood (6 & 7 Jun) is a curated weekend of adventure and nature for families, held in the fairytale grounds of Kinross’ Tullibole Castle. A packed programme offers foraging, storytelling, sports and performances, as well as workshops including circus, singing, graffiti and bullying awareness.

Scotland is famed for its walking, with 282 Munros to bag and multiple long-distance routes traversing the length and breadth of the country. Walk Islay (19–24 Apr) takes place across the isles of Islay, Jura and Colonsay.

Routes take in natural landmarks and bird watching, and at £5 a walk it’s great value.

Galashiels Walking Weekend (24–26 Apr) is led by experienced local guides and offers easy walks as well as strenuous climbs.

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Newton Stewart Walking Festival (8–14 May) returns with 30 different

routes. Some walks are accompanied by experts in history, geology and wildlife, and many will end at pubs and cafes. Isle of Arran Mountain Festival (15–18 May) lays on easy wildlife walks, night-time ascents of Goat Fell and extreme ridge scrambles. Ballater Walking Festival (16–22 May) has led 221 different walks through the Cairngorms but features new routes this year.

Spend the long summer days exploring awardwinning coastline at the Moray Walking and Outdoor Festival (12–21 Jun) with cycling and white water rafting available. Scottish Borders Walking Festival (5–12 Sep) is in Jedburgh for the 26th edition and features a mix of paid guided walks and free strolls. Crieff & Strathearn Drovers’ Tryst Walking Festival (22–25 May) takes advantage of the

autumn colours in Perthshire and hosts evening events including talks and film screenings.

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DISCOVER THE

Radical Voices & Rebel Stories 20 to 29 February 2020

BEAUTY OF SCOTLAND

MONARCH TOURS monarchtours.co.uk

email: chris@monarchtours.co.uk | instagram: @monarchtours

Tickets: www.paisleybookfest.com @bookpaisley @paisleybookfest

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THE GUIDE TO SCOTLAND’S FESTIVALS 2020

EAT, DRINK & BE MERRY With a full menu of food and drink festivals on offer, we take a look at some of Scotland’s fresh (and bottled) produce

A

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Stranraer Oyster Festival

Keeping it minimal and family focused is the

Taste of Grampian (6 Jun), a one-day food

and drink festival that allows visitors to discover and sample the wide range of high-quality food and drink products from Grampian and the North-East of Scotland. Smoked salmon, shortbread, ice-cream, roast beef and creamy fudge sit alongside drams of fine local whiskies.

Live music, street performers, a motor show, children’s entertainment, arts and crafts, cookery competitions, demonstrations, celebrity chefs and guests all fill out the schedule nicely.

Taking place in a stunning corner of the Fife coast is the Anstruther Harbour Festival (12– 14 Jun) which revives its historic market with food and craft stalls, live music and dance events (including this year’s Dunedin International Dance Festival).

Up in Aberdeenshire, the Huntly Hairst (5 Sep) is a unique annual harvest festival touting the best food and artisan produce of the northeast. Its farmers market hosts more than 50 stalls, while events include the World Stovies Championship and Room to Run, a welcome (for some) opportunity to work off all that delicious food.

And then there’s FyneFest (5–8 Jun), a family-friendly beer, food and music festival situated in the glorious surroundings of Loch Fyne. Organised by the Fyne Ales team, it gives visitors a chance to enjoy stunning scenery on the west coast of Scotland over a chilled weekend, with almost 300 beers, 30 live bands and plenty of street food vendors to choose from.

PHOTO: PETE ROBINSON

s the home of whisky and source of some of the planet’s greatest ingredients, Scotland is world-renowned for its extraordinary heritage of food and drink. It’s no wonder, then, that there are so many festivals vying for attention throughout the year.

Islay Festival of Music and Malt (22– 30 May) is a celebration of the numerous distilleries that pepper the island. Many are known for their peaty whiskies (Laphroaig, Ardbeg, Bruichladdich and Caol Ila to mention just a few) with the festival a melee of distillery visits, tastings, music, dancing and more.

One of Scotland’s smaller whisky regions is marked at the Campbeltown Malts Festival (19–22 May), a three-day celebration of the area’s remaining distilleries: Springbank, Glengyle and Glen Scotia. The event takes in distillery tours, masterclasses, local craft stalls, live music, special bottlings and more.

The country’s burgeoning gin scene is well covered, including the Falkirk Gin Social (18 Apr). Tickets enable guests the opportunity to sample from than the 20-plus gins that are exhibiting from across the world, while chatting with the various distillers and ambassadors to learn more about their tasty wares.

Fans of the bivalve have the Stranraer Oyster Festival (11–13 Sep) to look forward to.

With its commitment to sustainability, shucking and eating contests, cooking demonstrations and celebrity chefs, this festival (unlike the brackish salt water Ostreidae itself) really does have legs.

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NORTHERN LIGHTS FESTIVAL 12-19 Sept | Wick Harbour, Caithness A large-scale outdoor light and arts festival as part of VisitScotland's Year of Coasts & Waters

17th — 18th July 2020 The Biscuit Factory Leith

+ An unmissable summer festival of flavour + World class Brewers. Chefs. DJs. + Explore and enjoy hundreds of delicious beers

Buy your tickets from edinburghcraftbeerfestival.co.uk

Aberdeen Performing Arts presents

More info at lytharts.org.uk

24 - 27 September 2020 Aberdeen Performing Arts presents

Music Festival

Thu 20 - Sun 23 February 2020 Aberdeen’s international crime writing festival returns with author conversations, talks, walks, workshops, music and exhibitions.

Featuring Ian Rankin, Sara Paretsky, Ben Aaronovitch and many more! www.granitenoir.com Box office 01224 641122 facebook.com/granitenoirfest @granitenoirfest #granitenoir

We would like to thank Aberdeen City Council, Creative Scotland and EventScotland for their funding support with Granite Noir. We are also indebted to Waterstone’s for their enthusiasm and help with the festival.

truenorthfestival.co.uk 15

Hundreds of events for all ages over two weeks every Easter.

4–19 APRIL 2O2O 3–18 APRIL 2O21 sciencefestival.co.uk

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2020 THE GUIDE TO SCOTLAND’S FESTIVALS

PHOTO: NEIL JARVIE

From Blue Planet II to Greta Thunberg, climate awareness has never been higher or more pressing. With the UN’s COP26 environmental conference coming to Glasgow in November, Deborah Chu explains how festivals are increasingly responding to the crisis

‘F

or a long time, festivals might have thought that if they start talking about climate change, their audience might not be interested, or they’ll receive criticism for not focusing on literature, music or theatre,’ says Catriona Patterson, green arts project manager at Creative Carbon Scotland.

But with audiences now increasingly aware of the climate emergency, it’s become easier for festivals to stick their heads above the parapet.

‘Content-wise, we’re seeing more artistic work that’s directly talking about the climate crisis,’ says Patterson. ‘And festivals programming these works is a strong way they can use their influence. The more of it there is, the more normal it will be to talk about climate change and climate action.’

Though there’s no curation at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, this urgency was organically

mirrored in the latest edition of the world’s largest open-access art festival. ‘Work at the Fringe always reflects what’s going on in the world, and sustainability was the inspiration for not just a range of shows but, in one case, a venue’s entire programme,’ says Niki Boyle, the Fringe Society’s marketing content officer, citing BoxedIn Theatre’s pop-up venue The Greenhouse.

But they were far from the only ones: from Alanna Mitchell’s Sea Sick, to Cryptic’s Flow Country-inspired installation Below the Blanket, Fringe 2019 featured a powerful roster of shows examining the environmental cost of human activity. Organisations like Edinburgh Science make it their mission to communicate these truths to the public, particularly through the capital’s science festival. ‘As the peril of climate change sinks in, people are beginning 17

THE GUIDE TO SCOTLAND’S FESTIVALS 2020

to appreciate that human activities are causing something on an unprecedented scale that imperils entire ecosystems, our whole way of life for humans and other species,’ says Simon Gage, Edinburgh Science’s CEO and director.

Just as Patterson insists on a festival’s power to move hearts and minds, Edinburgh Science Festival works to redefine the paradigm by programming events that imagine how the future will look if we take action. ‘If we respond to this crisis, we produce a better world,’ says Gage. ‘So rather than people burying their heads in their hands and saying, “oh it’s all terrible”, we’re saying, actually it’s a tough problem but it’s one that we can respond to, and here are the ways.’

One of the challenges facing festivals, however, is the issue of their own carbon footprint.

Travel makes up the largest percentage of their emissions, so part of Patterson’s role is helping organisers encourage sustainable travel among audiences and participants. Think of it in terms of a travel hierarchy. ‘The best way you can get to us is by foot,’ she says. ‘Then it’s by bike, by bus, then by train. If it’s a difficult place to get to, festivals can think about how they work with local transport providers to make sure that the provision is enhanced for the duration.’

Failing this, festivals can signpost participants to

PHOTO: MURDO MACLEOD

car-sharing programmes or constructive carbonoffsetting schemes.

But what about festivals that operate on an international scale? Without viable, eco-efficient transport alternatives, organisers are looking to reduce. While the Fringe Society provides a toolkit on sustainable travel, they also felt it important to lead by example. ‘Our livestreamed FringeCasts present a sustainable way of talking artists through the process of coming to the Fringe, largely replacing the old method of presenting such sessions in person,’ says Boyle.

But Gage insists that the business-as-usual model must be challenged, acknowledging that the festivals which Edinburgh Science stage abroad require a rethink. ‘Festivals must embrace the notion that some of the ways they do things will require fundamental changes.’ And bringing about this change will require festivals to re-examine their priorities. ‘There isn’t a quick fix to taking carbon out of flying, and I think we have to remind ourselves that all festivals were brilliant before flying was cheap. So there’s a rethink needed that shifts the way we value and programme things.’

‘Festivals become a microcosm of society for a defined period of time,’ says Patterson. ‘So they’re a good environment to test new ways of working and behaving in a mad but controlled experiment.’

Therefore if festivals are a reflection of the values and challenges our society faces, then they can – and must – become a force for positive environmental change.

And this change can only be a good thing. Gage recalls a quote from Christiana Figueres, former executive secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, and recipient of the Edinburgh Award at last year’s Edinburgh Science Festival. ‘She said that this is the best crisis we’ve ever had because almost all of its solutions make the world a better place.

Moving to green energy and pollutionfree transportation, and giving ecosystems the capacity to thrive is a necessary part of climate change, and just makes sense, forever.’

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COP26, Glasgow, 9–20 Nov; The Climate Fringe, see page 80.

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CULTURE | HIGHLIGHT EVENTS 2020 PHOTO: GRANT PATERSON

World Pipe Band Championships

SCOTLAND THE PERFECT STAGE It is going to be a stellar year of top-class sporting competitions, arts festivals and cultural celebrations scheduled to take place across the length and breadth of the country. Here, we have a look at some of EventScotland’s funded events in 2020…

Granite Noir 20–23 Feb Aberdeen Aberdeen’s unique crime fiction festival presents a programme of author conversations, family events, walks, concerts, theatre, late night noir and exhibitions, transforming the city into a hub for crime writing lovers of all ages. granitenoir.com Glasgow International 24 Apr–10 May Various venues Glasgow’s biennial contemporary arts festival 20

returns, bringing together exhibitions and works by the best international and local artists, including new commissions from Martine Syms, Duncan Campbell and Georgina Starr. glasgowinternational. org Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival 29 Apr–4 May Various venues Set against the backdrop of Scotland’s whisky country, this popular festival features a wideranging programme of

over 700 whisky themed events; including behindthe-scenes distillery tours, tutored tastings, guided walks, ceilidhs and more. spiritofspeyside.com The Royal National Mòd 9–17 Oct Inverness Scotland’s annual celebration of Gaelic culture comes to Inverness in 2020 with a packed programme of music and song, highland dancing, drama, sport and literature, as well as new musical performances

and events to celebrate Scotland’s Year of Coasts and Waters 2020. ancomunn.co.uk World Pipe Band Championships 14–15 Aug Glasgow Green The World Pipe Band Championships will return to Glasgow, where around 8,000 pipers and drummers from across the world will congregate in the picturesque surroundings of Glasgow Green for the ultimate competition. theworlds.co.uk

HIGHLIGHT EVENTS 2020 | SPORT Müller Indoor Grand Prix 15 Feb Emirates Arena, Glasgow The number one ranked indoor athletics meet in the world will feature the biggest athletics stars from across the globe. Previous editions of the Müller Indoor Grand Prix have seen the likes of home favourites Dina Asher-Smith and Laura Muir compete in this incredible afternoon of world-class sport. britishathletics.org.uk LGT World Men’s Curling Championship 28 Mar–5 Apr Tiree Wave Classic

Emirates Arena, Glasgow For the first time in twenty years, Scotland will host the prestigious LGT World Men’s Curling Championship.

This highly-anticipated event will welcome 13 of the best curling teams to battle it out for the championship title and Olympic qualification points. wmcc2020.com Beast Race 30–31 May Loch Ore, Fife The latest edition in the epic Beast Race obstacle course series will feature a challenging 12km race

on the Saturday as well as 6km and children’s races on the Sunday. beastrace.co.uk UEFA EURO 2020 & UEFA Festival 12 Jun–12 Jul Hampden Park, George Square, Merchant City, Glasgow The city will come alive with arts, culture, music, sport and of course football in celebration of the tournament’s 60th anniversary. From the four matches to the city centre Fan Zones, it will be 31 days of actionpacked festivities. uefa.com/ uefaeuro-2020

LEN European Junior Swimming and Diving Championships 30 Jun–12 Jul Aberdeen Sports Village’s Aquatics Centre & Edinburgh’s Royal Commonwealth Pool The continent’s best young swimmers and divers come to Aberdeen and Edinburgh respectively for the annual competition. scottishswimming.com Baxters Loch Ness Marathon & Festival of Running 4 Oct Loch Ness Set within the stunning surroundings of Loch Ness, this annual test of endurance includes the marathon, 10k, 5k and Wee Nessie races.

For spectators there is also the Event Village at the finish line featuring family fun activities and a food and drink fayre. lochnessmarathon.com Tiree Wave Classic 10–16 Oct Isle of Tiree This thrilling event attracts many of the world’s best windsurfers and has made Tiree a well-known hub for wind sport adventures.

The week is packed with adrenaline-pumping competition and evening entertainment, all set within the beautiful scenery of the island. tireewaveclassic.co.uk

These events are supported through EventScotland funding programmes.

EventScotland.org @EventScotNews #perfectstage 21

GOLF | HIGHLIGHT EVENTS 2020

Royal Troon Golf Club

SCOTLAND SET FOR A MAJOR SUMMER OF GOLF Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open 9–12 Jul The Renaissance Club East Lothian The Scottish Open returns to Scotland’s Golf Coast and The Renaissance Club, near North Berwick, which hosted this Rolex Series event for the first time in 2019. The Scottish Open attracts one of the strongest fields on the European Tour given its prime slot ahead of The Open Championship; acting as the the perfect warm-up. This event offers a wonderful interactive spectator village experience for families, golfers and 22

those new to the game. asiscottishopen.com

Major Championships. ladiesscottishopen.com

Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open 13–16 Aug The Renaissance Club East Lothian The world’s finest female golfers will return to the stunning East Lothian coastline and The Renaissance Club for the second year in a row. The men’s Scottish Open will have been contested a month earlier and this cosanctioned tournament, made up of players from both the LPGA and the LET, will compete for the biggest prize fund in Europe outside of the

AIG Women’s British Open 20–23 Aug Royal Troon Golf Club South Ayrshire Scotland, the home of golf, will welcome the biggest event in women’s golf in 2020, the AIG Women’s British Open. It is the first time that this tournament has been staged at the iconic Royal Troon Golf Club in South Ayrshire which boasts an impressive resume of staging major championships including nine Open Championships, most recently in 2016 when Sweden’s Henrik Stenson

lifted the claret jug.

Stunning images of Scotland’s west coast will be beamed to a global audience as golf fans get the chance to watch the world’s best female golfers compete for this highly sought-after major title. aigwomensbritishopen. com The Alfred Dunhill Links Championship 1–4 Oct Various An event that offers a unique opportunity to witness golf’s very best play on three of the most prestigious links courses in the world – Carnoustie, Kingsbarns and St Andrews. Fans can expect to see A-List movie and sports stars and musicians tee it up alongside Major Champions and Ryder Cup stars. alfreddunhilllinks.com

THE GUIDE TO SCOTLAND’S FESTIVALS 2020

JANUARY 3–25 JANUARY

KING TUT’S NEW YEAR’S REVOLUTION MUSIC King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut, Glasgow, kingtuts.co.uk

King Tut’s New Year’s Revolution starts the year with an exciting line-up of acts making sdme waves in the Scottish music scene.

16 JANUARY–2 FEBRUARY

CELTIC CONNECTIONS MUSIC Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow, celticconnections.com

Glasgow’s annual folk, roots, indie, world and traditional music festival celebrates the links between Celtic music and cultures across the globe. The 2020 festival hosts the likes of

Roddy Hart, Karine Polwart and a tribute to Bruce ‘The Boss’ Springsteen.

A selection of exhilarating sports and adventure films.

20–26 JANUARY

18–25 JANUARY

RED, RED ROSE STREET

FAMILY / FOOD & DRINK / MUSIC Scottish Storytelling Centre, Edinburgh, scottishstorytellingcentre.com

FOOD & DRINK / HERITAGE Rose Street, Edinburgh, redredrosestreet.co.uk

BURNSFEST

An eclectic programme of events based around the works of Oor Rabbie, including live music, storytelling, dancing, an alternative Burns Supper and more.

The cleverly entitled Red, Red Rose Street is a celebration of the work of Robert Burns where visitors can enjoy spoken word, a traditional Burns Supper, dance, poetry and music at various locations along the capital’s iconic Rose Street.

18 JANUARY–25 FEBRUARY

BANFF MOUNTAIN FILM FESTIVAL WORLD TOUR

FILM & TV Various venues, Scotland, banff-uk.com

21 JANUARY–9 FEBRUARY

BURNS&BEYOND WITH JOHNNIE WALKER (INCLUDING CHINESE NEW YEAR) MUSIC Various venues, Edinburgh, burnsandbeyond.com

See Panel, page 25.

23 JANUARY–2 FEBRUARY

BIG BURNS SUPPER HERITAGE / MULTI-ARTS Various venues, Dumfries, bigburnssupper.com

Our Bard’s birth is marked with a vast selection of dance, theatre, visual arts, live art and comedy, turning Burns Night into a festival of contemporary arts. With some 150 shows featuring a total of 300 artists over 11 days, it’s definitely not a festival to be missed.

24–26 JANUARY

BURNS HAME TOUN FAMILY / HERITAGE / LITERATURE Various venues, Ayr, burnsfestival.com

The National Whisky Festival 24

Burns Hame Toun is a whole festival dedicated to Scotland’s internationally acclaimed poet, Robert Burns, with a fine weekend of music, art, talks and walks.

LIST.CO.UK/FESTIVALS

2020 THE GUIDE TO SCOTLAND’S FESTIVALS

24–26 JANUARY

PEEBLES OUTDOOR FILM FESTIVAL FILM & TV Eastgate Theatre & Arts Centre, Peebles, eastgatearts.com

A busy weekend of adventure films, inspiring speakers and hands-on sessions, all housed in the truly picturesque Tweed Valley.

25 JANUARY

BURNS NIGHT AT THE BREWERY FOOD & DRINK / MUSIC Stewart Brewing, Loanhead, stewartbrewing.co.uk

Stewart Brewing host a Burns Night supper with the ticket price including a haggis supper, beer on arrival, a small dram and live music.

25 JANUARY

BURNS&BEYOND WITH JOHNNIE WALKER (INCLUDING CHINESE NEW YEAR)

FAMILY / HERITAGE / LITERATURE Burns House Museum, Mauchline, eastayrshireleisure. com

The stars have aligned for a very special edition of Burns&Beyond, as Chinese New Year happily coincides with the annual Burns Night celebrations on 25 January. Highlights include the spectacular canopy of Chinese lanterns that will festoon the St Giles’ Cathedral ceiling, garlanding a roster of performances taking place at the atmospheric venue. The Official Chinese New Year Concert returns to the Usher Hall, and will feature artists from the Guizhou Song And Dance Ensemble alongside the Edinburgh Symphony Orchestra, the Edinburgh Singers and other talented artists from both countries.

Over at St Cecilia’s, their Bilingual Ceilidh will encourage everyone to take a spin across the dance floor with dramatic Chinese drumming and demonstrations, while the Confucius Institute launches the third edition of the Chinese translation of Burns’ Selected Poems alongside a stunning calligraphy exhibition. And, for one night only, explore the capital’s Old and New Towns with short shows taking place in multiple venues, featuring comedy, spoken word and music from performers including KT Tunstall.

Other faces from the Scottish music world set to make an appearance include legendary hitmaker Edwyn Collins, a tea-time whirl with ‘Ceilidh King’ Fergie MacDonald and Glasgow folk-pop four-piece Tide Lines. We’ll also be raising a dram in honour of Scott Hutchison and Frightened Rabbit at A Waltz Across the Carpet, an evening of live music and performance benefitting the mental health charity Tiny Changes. And of course, it would hardly be a Burns celebration without a supper, so the ‘Not-So-Traditional’ Burns Supper returns with MC duties taken by comedian Scott Gibson and featuring rollicking tunes from the Kilter Ceilidh Band. (Deborah Chu) ■ Various venues, Edinburgh, 21 January–9 February, burnsandbeyond.com

BURNS’ BIRTHDAY IN MAUCHLINE

This is a family event celebrating Rabbie Burns’ birthday, with particular reference to Mauchline, the East Ayrshire town in which he once lived.

25 JANUARY

THE NATIONAL WHISKY FESTIVAL FOOD & DRINK SWG3, Glasgow, nationalwhiskyfestival.scot

The National Whisky Festival is a fine chance to try a selection of great whiskies from more than 40 tasting stands at SWG3. Some of the best of the golden stuff from around the world is on offer here, while a number of local restaurants are also providing some ideal dishes to complement the different drams.

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THE GUIDE TO SCOTLAND’S FESTIVALS 2020

SPOTLIGHT ON . . .

FIFE FESTIVAL OF MUSIC Moving into its 40th year, the Fife Festival of Music is a school-led event with an emphasis on attracting families with young members to an impressive choice of activities and performances.

These include music workshops/‘come and try’ sessions on ukulele, singing, samba, drum kit and pipe band drumming.

For younger ones there’s the return of popular award-winning and funloving classical double act Travelling By Tuba.

If you need a break from the music, there’s also face painting and a festival shop. Some 10,000 performers and audience members took part last year and, uniquely, the festival also runs a class sponsorship scheme that allows individuals, businesses and other organisations the chance to provide financial support. (Paul Dale) ■ Various venues, Fife, 28 January–7 February, ffom.org.uk

26

Scottish Snowdrop Festival 25 JANUARY–2 FEBRUARY

PERTH RIVERSIDE LIGHT NIGHTS

FAMILY Norie-Miller Walk, Perth perthcity.co.uk/riverside-lightnights-2020

This is your chance to experience the beauty of Perth’s riverside as illuminations transform the Norie Miller Walk into a wonderful winter wonderland.

28 JANUARY–7 FEBRUARY

FIFE FESTIVAL OF MUSIC

MUSIC Various venues, Fife, ffom.org.uk

See Spotlight, left.

25 JANUARY–11 MARCH

SCOTTISH SNOWDROP FESTIVAL FAMILY / OUTDOOR Various venues, Scotland, discoverscottishgardens.org

Each year the Scottish Snowdrop Festival gathers together some of the best gardens and woodlands in the country so that you won’t miss out on the arrival of

these dainty little flowers. To festival-goers, it’s always the sign that spring is well on its way. Among the venues are the Cambo Estate near St Andrews, Dunvegan Castle in Isle of Skye, Aberdeenshire’s Fyvie Castle, the Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh, Perthshire’s Scone Palace, and Teasses Estate near Ceres in Fife.

28 JANUARY

UP HELLY AA FAMILY / HERITAGE Various venues, Shetland, uphellyaa.org

Shetland shows off its history with a spectacular fire festival and other merry making as a series of marches and visitations lead up to the dramatic burning of a galley.

31 JANUARY–8 FEBRUARY

MANIPULATE FESTIVAL

FAMILY / FILM & TV / THEATRE & DANCE Summerhall and The Studio at Festival Theatre, Edinburgh, manipulatefestival. org

See Panel, page 27.

LIST.CO.UK/FESTIVALS

2020 THE GUIDE TO SCOTLAND’S FESTIVALS

FEBRUARY 1 & 2 FEBRUARY

COMRIE FILM FESTIVAL FILM & TV Rural Hall, Comrie, comriecinema.co.uk/web/ filmfestival.html

Weekend film festival with 10 features, surprise guests, Q&As and more.

1 & 2 FEBRUARY

EDINBURGH WELLBEING FESTIVAL FOOD & DRINK / OUTDOOR Assembly Rooms, Edinburgh, edinburghwellbeingfestival.com

Event devoted to all matters revolving around health, fitness and wellbeing. Activities include yoga, meditation and talks.

7–22 FEBRUARY

HEBRIDEAN DARK SKIES FESTIVAL MUSIC / SCIENCE / THEATRE & DANCE Various venues, Isle of Lewis, lanntair.com

See Spotlight, page 30.

12–16 FEBRUARY

SOMETHING HAS TO HAPPEN THEATRE & DANCE Various venues, Glasgow workerstheatre.co.uk

A festival of theatre, performance and workshops. Artists include Mara Menzies, Julia Taudevin, Beth Frieden and Rosie Orr. 13–16 FEBRUARY

WINTER WORDS FESTIVAL LITERATURE Pitlochry Festival Theatre, Pitlochry, pitlochryfestivaltheatre. com

A chilled-out book fest with author events, storytelling sessions, movement workshops and literary lunches. Confirmed authors include Val McDermid, Sir Tom Devine and Sue Armstrong.

MANIPULATE FESTIVAL Puppet Animation Scotland kicks off 2020 with a nine-day celebration of visual theatre, puppetry and animated film. This year the festival steps across the capital to take up residence at Summerhall and The Studio at Festival Theatre.

Now in its 13th year, Manipulate has long been a showcase of international talent and this programme is no exception. Lutkovno Gledališče Ljubljana and Centre Dramatique National d’Alsace present their immersive Slovenian version of the Faust legend Open the Owl, Paper Doll Militia explore the impact of modern communication on mental health using tightwire walking in A Wire Apart, and Collectif AÏE AÏE AÏE perform Ma Biche et Mon Lapin, a tabletop show where couples get together and break up in a ballet of manipulated objects.

If you missed Jordan & Skinner’s rip-roaring character show A Brief History of the Fragile Male Ego at the Fringe you can catch it here on opening night. Also flying the flag for Scotland’s dynamic visual theatre scene are Two Destination Language with FAULT LINES, a technologydriven show about the constricting identities which society places on women, Lewis Sherlock and Ali Maloney’s adaptation of a Kafka classic in After Metamorphosis, and Tortoise in a Nutshell’s biggest production yet, Ragnarok, which tackles the climate crisis.

The expanded Rising Voices strand showcases short-form pieces and work in the final stages of development, while on the big screen there’s original animation courtesy of Edinburgh Short Film Festival and Festival Stop Motion Montréal. New for 2020 is a free cabaret presented by a rotating cast of Scottish theatre makers, offering something exciting for newcomers and veterans of Manipulate alike.

(Rowena McIntosh) ■ Summerhall and The Studio at Festival Theatre, Edinburgh, 31 January–8 February, manipulatefestival.org 27

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Held in Scotland’s outdoor capital, this year’s series of films and lectures celebrating mountain culture covers everything from rewilding in Scotland to ascents in the Himalayas.

20–23 FEBRUARY

FEMSPECTIVES FILM & TV / POLITICS Civic House, Glasgow, femspectives.com

The Glasgow Feminist Film Festival, Femspectives, returns for a second edition, supporting womxn directors from all over the world.

20–23 FEBRUARY

GRANITE NOIR FAMILY / LITERATURE Various venues, Aberdeen, granitenoir.com Capital Sci-Fi Con 13–16 FEBRUARY

SPECTRA: ABERDEEN’S FESTIVAL OF LIGHT ART / FAMILY Aberdeen City Centre, spectraaberdeen.com

Public light artworks animate spaces in Aberdeen’s city centre at this four-day festival.

This year’s event celebrates Aberdeen’s rich coast and waters in recognition of the national Year of Coasts and Waters.

14–16 FEBRUARY

CAPITAL SCI-FI CON FILM & TV Corn Exchange, Edinburgh, capitalscificon.co.uk

Science-fiction convention aiming to raise funds for Children’s Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS). There will be large-scale props from movies plus live special effects presentations, retro gaming consoles, trade stalls and a cosplay competition.

28

Actors and voice-over artists make appearances over the weekend along with cult comic book illustrators and writers.

15 & 16 FEBRUARY

EDINBURGH MOUNTAIN FILM FESTIVAL FILM & TV Gordon Aikman Lecture Theatre, Edinburgh, emff.co.uk

The majesty of mountains is captured on film in a series of screenings, lectures and exhibitions. The EMFF focuses on adventure of all kinds: climbing, mountaineering, skiing, snowboarding, mountain biking and exploration are among some of the adrenaline-pumping activities represented.

19–23 FEBRUARY

FORT WILLIAM MOUNTAIN FESTIVAL FILM & TV / OUTDOOR Various venues, Fort William, mountainfestival.co.uk

Aberdeen’s crime writing festival returns for a third year with author events, workshops and family shows.

20–29 FEBRUARY

PAISLEY BOOK FESTIVAL LITERATURE Various venues, Paisley, paisleybookfest.com/events

This brand new book festival features the theme of Radical Voices and Rebel Stories. Paisley welcomes appearances from the talented likes of Jenni Fagan, Kirstin Innes, Val McDermid, Christopher Brookmyre and Doug Johnstone.

21–23 FEBRUARY

AUDACIOUS WOMEN FESTIVAL LITERATURE / MUSIC / THEATRE & DANCE Various venues, Edinburgh, audaciouswomen.scot

A festival which breaks down personal, political and institutional barriers and gives a massive shout out to women everywhere.

LIST.CO.UK/FESTIVALS

26 FEBRUARY – 8 MAR

CH

THE PERFECT MOVIE MIX GLASGOWFILM.ORG/FESTIVAL #GFF20

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THE GUIDE TO SCOTLAND’S FESTIVALS 2020

SPOTLIGHT ON . . .

HEBRIDEAN DARK SKIES FESTIVAL Returning for a second year, the Hebridean Dark Skies Festival is a multiarts event which takes the counter-intuitive step of inviting visitors to head further into darkness during the depths of winter. With some of the UK’s darkest skies (and possible views of the Northern Lights, Orion Nebula and Milky Way), the Isle of Lewis and its main town, Stornoway, offer a space for peace and reflection through art.

Many events take place around an astronomy theme, including a performance of Karine Polwart’s new theatre/ music show, The Only Light Was Stars. There will also be science-themed comedy from Robin Ince, a quartet of space-based films including Solaris, and a live reproduction of Jeff Wayne’s The War of the Worlds, plus talks, workshops, stargazing events and a wild night swim. (David Pollock) ■ Various venues, Isle of Lewis, 7–22 February, lanntair.com.

30

Just Start Here 24 FEBRUARY–26 MARCH

ARTS ACROSS LEARNING FESTIVAL FAMILY / MUSIC / THEATRE & DANCE Various venues, Aberdeen, aberdeencity.gov.uk

A festival with more than 200 free events that aims to encourage stronger bonds between pupils, teachers and arts bodies.

25 FEBRUARY–12 APRIL

LENTFEST

MUSIC / THEATRE & DANCE Various venues, Glasgow, lentfest.co.uk

An annual festival of faith and arts, incorporating theatre, film screenings, music, poetry and visual arts, across the Archdiocese of Glasgow.

26 FEBRUARY–8 MARCH

GLASGOW FILM FESTIVAL

FILM & TV Various venues, Glasgow, glasgowfilm.org

Since 2005, Scotland’s fastestgrowing film festival has become a force to be reckoned with in the movie world.

26 FEBRUARY–15 MARCH

IBERODOCS

FILM & TV Various venues, Edinburgh & Glasgow iberodocs.org

Showcase for Ibero-American culture in Scotland, featuring the best of Spanish, Portuguese and Latin-American documentary films.

27 FEBRUARY–1 MARCH

EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL IMPROV FESTIVAL COMEDY Assembly Roxy, Edinburgh, edimprovfest.com

Edinburgh’s improv fest returns for the second time with the best adlibbed comedy shows as well as workshops, open mic nights and more.

LIST.CO.UK/FESTIVALS

SCOTTISH INTERNATIONAL STORYTELLING FESTIVAL Immerse yourself in the sounds of storytelling at the Scottish International Storytelling Festival and experience old traditions in new ways through live performances, workshops, talks and children’s events, featuring storytellers from across the globe as well as talent closer to home, this autumn.

16–31 OCT 2020 32

sisf.org.uk @ScottishStorytellingCentre @scottishstorytellingcentre @ScotStoryCentre

2020 THE GUIDE TO SCOTLAND’S FESTIVALS

27 FEBRUARY–4 MARCH

INVERNESS MUSIC FESTIVAL

MUSIC Various venues, Inverness, invernessmusicfestival.org

Run by Inverness Festival Association, this festival is a competitive event that allows people of all ages and abilities to display their skills.

28 & 29 FEBRUARY

JUST START HERE FOOD & DRINK / MUSIC / THEATRE & DANCE The Stove, Dumfries, thestove.org

A two-day festival featuring contributions and new work-inprogress theatre and performance from Dumfries-based Scottish talents.

29 FEBRUARY

HINA MATSURI JAPANESE SPRING FESTIVAL

MARCH 4–8 MARCH

STANZA

FAMILY / LITERATURE Various venues, St Andrews, stanzapoetry.org

The Fife Whisky Festival brings together 30 distilleries and independent bottlers from all over Scotland to showcase their whisky wares.

6–29 MARCH

See Panel, page 35.

LOCHWINNOCH ARTS FESTIVAL

5–8 MARCH

MULTI-ARTS Various venues, Lochwinnoch, lochwinnochartsfestival.co.uk

OFF THE PAGE STIRLING BOOK FESTIVAL FAMILY / LITERATURE Various venues, Stirling, facebook.com/ offthepagefestival

This exciting local book fest features a wide range of authors and speakers for adults and children of all ages.

6–8 MARCH

FIFE WHISKY FESTIVAL FOOD & DRINK Cupar Corn Exchange, Cupar, fifewhiskyfestival.com

Lochwinnoch’s annual arts festival is a celebration of music, art, dance and theatre. Not for nothing is it known as ‘The Friendly Festival’.

7 MARCH

WEE WRITE! FAMILY / LITERATURE Mitchell Library, Glasgow, ayewrite.com

A jam-packed programme of activities and readings for children, families and school pupils of all ages.

FAMILY / MUSIC Kibble Palace, Glasgow, japanese-matsuri-glasgow.org. uk

Take part in this celebration of Japanese culture by checking out a spot of taiko drumming, trying your hand at origami and sampling some Asian sweets.

29 FEBRUARY–14 MARCH

DUNDEE WOMEN’S FESTIVAL MULTI-ARTS / POLITICS Various venues, Dundee, dundeewomensfestival.org.uk

Two weeks of events, dramas, discussions and workshops.

29 FEBRUARY–31 OCTOBER

150 YEARS OF LIGHTING UP SCURDIE NESS

ART / HERITAGE / SCIENCE Montrose Museum, Montrose

Find out more about the long history of the Scurdie Ness Lighthouse.

Fife Whisky Festival 33

THE GUIDE TO SCOTLAND’S FESTIVALS 2020

8 MARCH

CULLEN SKINK WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS FOOD & DRINK Cullen Bay Hotel, Cullen, discovercullen.com

Seventh annual competition pitting the best cullen skink makers against one another, with blind tastings, stalls and entertainment.

9–14 MARCH

GALLOWAY MUSIC FESTIVAL MUSIC Various venues, Stranraer & Newton Stewart, gallowaymusicfestival.org.uk

Competitive music festival for amateur musicians of all ages.

The syllabus covers a wide range of categories including piano, brass, woodwind,

recorder, strings, ensemble, vocal, choral, jazz, recital, composition, speech and Scottish traditional, with the public welcome to attend.

learn something new or brush up a little on established skills.

9–21 MARCH

MUSIC Various venues, Aberdeen, aberdeenjazzfestival.com

PERFORM IN PERTH MUSIC Various venues, Perth, perthshire-music-festival.org.uk

12–22 MARCH

ABERDEEN JAZZ FESTIVAL

Competitors from all over Perthshire show off their talents in the fields of music, dance and speech at various venues in Perth.

A host of musicians and performers descend on the Granite City for a few days of jazz and blues, with everything from jamming and workshops, to chilled-out gigs on the green and late-night sessions.

12–15 MARCH

12–29 MARCH

ULLAPOOL DANCE FESTIVAL FAMILY / THEATRE & DANCE Various venues, Ullapool, ullapooldance.org

Dance festival with classes for all ages and abilities where you can

AYE WRITE! GLASGOW’S BOOK FESTIVAL LITERATURE Mitchell Library and Theatre, Glasgow, ayewrite.com

A festival celebrating Scottish

Wee Dub Festival 34

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2020 THE GUIDE TO SCOTLAND’S FESTIVALS

and international writers and writing.

12–29 MARCH

GLASGOW INTERNATIONAL COMEDY FESTIVAL COMEDY / FAMILY Various venues, Glasgow, glasgowcomedyfestival.com

Glasgow’s comedy festival birls back into your life, getting ever more impressive with each outing. For this year you’re looking at a top line-up which includes such luminaries as Stewart Lee, Janey Godley and current Edinburgh Comedy Award winner Jordan Brookes.

13–15 MARCH

DORNOCH GRAND FIBRE FEST ART / HERITAGE Various venues, Dornoch, Dornoch, fibrefest.org.uk

A festival of fibre and woollen crafts, with masterclasses in weaving and botanical printing.

13–15 MARCH

WEE DUB FESTIVAL MUSIC Old Town, Edinburgh, weedubfestival.co.uk

Scotland’s only festival dedicated to dub and reggae music in all its forms. Taking place across various venues in Edinburgh’s Old Town, it offers a diverse and enjoyable weekend of gigs, clubs, workshops, food and more.

13–15 MARCH

C2C: COUNTRY TO COUNTRY MUSIC SSE Hydro, Glasgow, c2c-countrytocountry.com

Country music extravaganza featuring some of Nashville’s biggest stars. The 2020 lineup includes Luke Combs, Eric Church, Darius Rucker, Tanya Tucker and The Cadillac Three.

STANZA Another year and another excellent line-up has been laid on for StAnza aka Scotland’s International Poetry Festival. More than 100 events of poetry, music, film and visual art will light up St Andrews, with the Byre Theatre acting as the festival’s hub while many other venues will be flinging their doors open including the Town Hall and St Johns, a mediaeval undercroft.

StAnza’s way in recent years has been to work on two themes which link and weave into each other, and this time around the organisers have chosen Coast Lines and Due North. The first one, in particular, will be used to help mark Scotland’s Year of Coasts and Waters, a year-long celebration of those crucial parts of our environment.

Among those who are set to shine for March 2020 are Jen Hadfield, the youngest ever winner of the TS Eliot Prize back in 2008 for her second collection, Nigh-No-Place; 2019’s BBC Edinburgh Fringe Slam Champion, Birdspeed; writer, artist, film programmer and activist Jay Bernard; and Detroit poet, editor and human rights advocate Carolyn Forché. Other names in the StAnza frame are Wendy Cope, Michael Longley, Mimi Khalvati, Cecilie Løveid, Gerry Cambridge and Johan Sandberg McGuinne.

Things kick off in grand style with an opening night gala featuring a selection of top-notch acts who will be appearing across the fiveday festival period while a new event for this year is Desert Island Poems, in which Fife crime author Val McDermid will share with us her favourite pieces of verse. (Brian Donaldson) ■ Various venues, St Andrews, 4–8 March, stanzapoetry.org 35

THE GUIDE TO SCOTLAND’S FESTIVALS 2020

Inverurie Beer Festival

13–21 MARCH

EDINBURGH’S FESTIVAL OF IRELAND FAMILY / MUSIC / THEATRE & DANCE Various venues, Edinburgh, edinburghsfestivalofireland.org

A little bit of Ireland descends upon Edinburgh around St Patrick’s Day as the city celebrates the rich culture of the Emerald Isle. This is a multi-arts, family-friendly celebration of the links between Edinburgh and Ireland, with storytelling, music, comedy and lots and lots of dancing.

14 & 15 MARCH

WRITE BY THE SEA LITERATURE Argyll’s Secret Coast, Kames, writebythesea.co.uk

A brand-new communityoriented book festival centred around themes of nature and place, with talks, workshops, 36

pub quiz and various other events.

16–19 MARCH

SHETLAND SCHOOLS’ MUSIC FESTIVAL FAMILY / MUSIC Mareel, Lerwick, shetlandarts. org/venues/mareel

Annual showcase of the skills and talents of Shetland’s young musicians.

16–20 MARCH

CAITHNESS INTERNATIONAL SCIENCE FESTIVAL FAMILY / SCIENCE Various venues, Caithness, science03.org

Annual festival that features workshops, presentations, speakers and competitions.

18–22 MARCH

GLASGOW SHORT FILM FESTIVAL FILM & TV

Glasgow Film Theatre, Glasgow, glasgowfilm.org/glasgow-shortfilm-festival This is the largest competitive short film festival in Scotland, and celebrates diverse forms of cinematic expression that transgress the boundaries of conventional narrative film. The programme includes international and Scottish competitions, networking events, panel discussions, workshops and parties.

18–22 MARCH

HIPPFEST FAMILY / FILM & TV The Hippodrome, Bo’ness, hippodromecinema.co.uk/ silent-film-festival

Scotland’s only silent film festival runs over five days with events, screenings and workshops, featuring live music and storytelling by national and international musicians and performers.

LIST.CO.UK/FESTIVALS

Glasgow international.org

@gifestival #Gi2020

@Gifestival #Gi2020

9th Edition

Discover what makes Glasgow a European capital of contemporary visual art. Visit Scotland’s largest festival for art and experience a range of exhibitions, performances, talks across every corner of the city.

All exhibitions are admission free.

Plan your journey at glasgowinternational.org

Gi List Quarter Page .indd 1

Meet the Reiving Families at a gathering of the Border Clans

15/01/2020 09:52

BORDERS KITH & KIN

Family History Talks Reivers encampment and re-enactment Torchlight Parade “The Hot Trod” and Fireworks display Ghost Walks 16th Century Banquet & entertainment & much, much more...

HAWICK REIVERS FESTIVAL

FRIDAY 27TH - SUNDAY 29TH MARCH 2020 WWW.HAWICKREIVERS.COM 37

THE GUIDE TO SCOTLAND’S FESTIVALS 2020

Hawick Reivers Festival 20–22 MARCH

THE NIEL GOW FESTIVAL MUSIC Various venues, Dunkeld & Birnam, niel-gow.co.uk

Established in 2004 to celebrate the life of Perthshire fiddle legend Niel Gow, this festival is now a breeding ground for traditional music talent, running a selection of workshops and performances, with events taking place across the lovely villages of Dunkeld and Birnam.

21 MARCH

ADAM SMITH FOOD AND DRINK FAIR FAMILY / FOOD & DRINK Fife College, Kirkcaldy, fife.ac.uk

Part of the Adam Smith Festival of Ideas, this fair is a celebration of local food and drink, with demonstrations, talks and samples. This year’s programme will be headlined by Gary Maclean, the 2016 winner of 38

MasterChef The Professionals, and features kids’ workshops and more than 20 stalls selling local produce.

27 & 28 MARCH

INVERURIE BEER FESTIVAL FOOD & DRINK / MUSIC Lochter Activity Centre, Inverurie, inveruriebeerfestival. com

A varied beer (and also cider, gin and rum) festival. To line your stomach, street food vendors will be on hand with a selection of tasty treats, and when you’re all full up, you can kick back and listen to some live music.

27–29 MARCH

BANJO MANDOLIN GUITAR FEDERATION FESTIVAL MUSIC Merchiston Castle School, Edinburgh, banjomandolinguitar. org

A new music festival featuring

concerts, workshops, informal playing and contests.

27–29 MARCH

HAWICK REIVERS FESTIVAL FAMILY / HERITAGE / MULTI-ARTS Various venues, Hawick, hawickreivers.com

A programme of music, drama and re-enactments allows you to experience what life was like in the mid-16th century.

28 MARCH–18 APRIL

PUPPET ANIMATION FESTIVAL FAMILY / THEATRE & DANCE Various venues, Scotland, puppetanimationfestival.org

The UK’s largest and longestestablished annual performing arts event for children pulls some strings to present a feast of puppet-based entertainment, working with local authorities, organisations and venues throughout Scotland.

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2020 THE GUIDE TO SCOTLAND’S FESTIVALS

APRIL 2–5 APRIL

COUNTERFLOWS ART / FILM & TV / MUSIC Various venues, Glasgow, counterflows.com

A festival of underground, experimental and international music, Counterflows marries the local to the international with artists from around the world collaborating with homegrown talent across Glasgow.

3–5 APRIL

GLENFARG FOLK FEAST FAMILY / MUSIC The Green Hotel, Kinross, glenfargfolkclub.com

A small and friendly stalwart of the folk festival calendar, this is an initiative of Glenfarg Village Folk Club and is open to many musical styles of an acoustic variety as well as storytelling and poetry.

3–8 APRIL

3–5 APRIL

CONPULSION FLAME

EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL HARP FESTIVAL

FAMILY Teviot, Edinburgh, conpulsion.org

FAMILY / MUSIC / Merchiston Castle School, Edinburgh, harpfestival.co.uk

Conpulsion is Edinburgh’s largest weekend tabletop gaming convention, covering board games, role-playing games, card games and wargames. There are guests, competitions, events, traders and lots of games to play including old favourites and brand new releases.

Held on the beautiful grounds of Merchiston Castle School, EIHF annually welcomes a healthy mix of world-class harpists and up-and-coming talents playing a range of styles from folk to jazz with concerts, courses, workshops, the UK’s largest harpmakers exhibition and latenight music sessions.

3–12 APRIL

ON THE ROCKS STUDENT ARTS FESTIVAL FAMILY / MULTI-ARTS Various venues, St Andrews, ontherocksfestival.com

Student-run arts festival featuring shows, concerts and exhibitions for all the family.

4 APRIL

LORDS OF THE LAND FESTIVAL MUSIC Barrowland Ballroom, Glasgow, musicglue.com/lords-of-theland

Extreme festival with a full day of thrash and death metal action.

4 & 5 APRIL

SPRINGFEST: THE SCOTTISH FOOD & DRINK FESTIVAL FOOD & DRINK Loch Lomond Shores, Balloch, lochlomondspringfest.co.uk

A springtime event to celebrate all things food and drink, from the people behind the ever-popular Loch Lomond Food & Drink Festival.

4–19 APRIL

EDINBURGH SCIENCE FESTIVAL FAMILY / SCIENCE Various venues, Edinburgh, sciencefestival.co.uk

Hands-on science for families in venues across the city with a programme ranging from the entertaining to the controversial and, of course, the icky.

11 APRIL

TERMINAL V MUSIC Royal Highland Centre, Edinburgh, terminalv.co.uk

Edinburgh Science Festival

Dance and electronic music festival featuring Richie Hawtin, Nina Kraviz, Honey Dijon and more.

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THE GUIDE TO SCOTLAND’S FESTIVALS 2020

PHOTO: RSPB/FIONA EMSL IE

15–19 APRIL

DOLPHINFEST FAMILY Various venues, Aberdeen, rspb.org.uk

See Spotlight, left.

16–18 APRIL

SUMMERHALL BEER FESTIVALE FOOD & DRINK Summerhall, Edinburgh summerhall.co.uk

All things beery, yeasty and delicious are packed into Summerhall for an ale-filled weekend featuring in-house brewery Barney’s.

ST ANDREWS FOOD AND DRINK FESTIVAL FAMILY / FOOD & DRINK Various venues, St Andrews, foodfromfife.co.uk

A rich celebration of Fife’s culinary produce with demos and tastings.

18 & 19 APRIL

GLASGOW ZINE FEST LITERATURE CCA, Glasgow, glasgowzinelibrary.com/ glasgow-zine-fest

A weekend of workshops, screenings, talks and socials dedicated to self-publishing.

SPOTLIGHT ON . . .

16–19 APRIL

19–24 APRIL

DOLPHINFEST

LITERATURE Mill on the Fleet, Gatehouse of Fleet, biglit.org

FAMILY / OUTDOOR Various venues, Isle of Islay, walkislay.co.uk

There is no better sight from a boat on the many waterways of North East Scotland than those beautiful bottlenose dolphins doing their aquatic ballet. Aberdeen is one of the best places in the UK to watch them from the shore. The aim of DolphinFest is to encourage sustainable dolphin watching while ensuring no disturbance to their water habitats.

There will be a series of pop-up events across the Granite City from interactive games to conservation talks, beach cleans and (best of all) citizen science projects, as well as a one-day schools-led event in which children design their own vision of Aberdeen as a leading marine-animal protectorate city. Flipper’s future seems to be in good hands. (Paul Dale) ■ Various venues, Aberdeen, 15–19 April, rspb.org.uk

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18 APRIL

BIG LIT

A long weekend of events in Gatehouse of Fleet, including talks, stories and poetry.

18 APRIL

FALKIRK GIN SOCIAL FOOD & DRINK Macdonald Inchyra Hotel and Spa, Falkirk, macdonaldhotels.co.uk/ourhotels/macdonald-inchyrahotel-spa

Craft Beer Discovery, the team who host Falkirk’s festival of craft beer and Falkirk Whisky Festival, branch out into the gin game with the Falkirk Gin Festival.

Sample gins and learn how to achieve that perfect serve. Ticket price includes samples of all gins, a programme and one gin and tonic token.

WALK ISLAY

See the best of Scottish island landscapes with this walking festival. There are six different walks to choose from, including around Jura and Cnoc-Brec.

23–25 APRIL

WIDE DAYS MUSIC Various venues, Edinburgh, widedays.com

Scotland’s key music convention, featuring networking opportunities and live offerings.

23–26 APRIL

DEAD BY DAWN FILM & TV Filmhouse, Edinburgh, deadbydawn.co.uk

The Filmhouse’s horror fest hosts a selection of premieres, classics, short films and special guests.

18 APRIL

PAISLEY COMIC CON LITERATURE Lagoon Leisure Centre, Paisley, PaisleyComics.com

Celebration of comic art and culture with stalls, traders, games, cosplay, talks and demonstrations.

23–26 APRIL

NUART ABERDEEN ART Aberdeen Inspired, Aberdeen facebook.com/nuartaberdeen

Internationally acclaimed artists take part in this award-winning street art festival.

LIST.CO.UK/FESTIVALS

MAKE A SPLASH IN SCOTLAND’S YEAR OF COASTS AND WATERS 2020 From water inspired myths and legends to historic harbours, sweeping coastlines to the very best in seafood, whisky, wildlife and wellness, Scotland’s enviable coasts and waters will be showcased through a year-long programme of events and activities in 2020.

Find out more at visitscotland.com/ycw2020 Join the conversation #YCW2020

Surfing At Brims Ness, Thurso

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THE GUIDE TO SCOTLAND’S FESTIVALS 2020

24 APRIL–10 MAY

GLASGOW INTERNATIONAL CANAL PROGRAMME ART Various venues, Glasgow, glasgowinternational.org

Festival held at various venues along the Forth and Clyde Canal in North Glasgow featuring a major commission by artist Alberta Whittle, plus a programme of workshops, groups, talks, tours, performances and film screenings about the canal.

24 & 25 APRIL

PAISLEY FOOD AND DRINK FESTIVAL FOOD & DRINK / MUSIC Town Centre, Paisley, paisley.is/ featured_event/paisley-food-anddrink-festival

A celebration of the best that Scotland’s larder has to offer, with plenty of food-related fun. This year’s programme features an outstanding array of street food – including plenty of vegan selections – cooking demonstrations, children’s activities, live music and a beer tent from the Renfrewshire branch of CAMRA. 24–26 APRIL

NORTHERN STREAMS FAMILY / HERITAGE / MUSIC The Pleasance, Edinburgh, northernstreams.org

Festival featuring Nordic and

Scottish music, song and dance, with concerts, workshops and sessions from up-and-coming and established artists organised by the TMSA Edinburgh & Lothians Branch.

24 APRIL–10 MAY

GLASGOW INTERNATIONAL

25 APRIL

FIFE BRASS BAND FESTIVAL MUSIC Carnegie Hall, Dunfermline, onfife.com

Bands around Scotland present their own brassy concert programme.

ART / FAMILY Various venues, Glasgow, glasgowinternational.org

25 APRIL

25 APRIL

One-day punk festival featuring The Dickies, UK Subs, Subhumans, Cockney Rejects, Anti-Nowhere League, and Steve Ignorant.

See Panel, page 43.

ABERDEEN CRAFT AND ALE TRAIL FOOD & DRINK Various venues, Aberdeen, realaletrail.co.uk

Sample craft beers and ales from eight pubs in Aberdeen and the surrounding villages, with buses to shuttle participants from one location to the next.

25 & 26 APRIL

COLONSAY BOOK FESTIVAL FAMILY / LITERATURE Colonsay Village Hall, Isle of Colonsay, colonsaybookfestival. org.uk

A book festival hosted by the beautiful inner Hebridean isle of Colonsay. As well as readings and performances, the emphasis is on meeting and chatting with the writers, plus debate and good craic in the pub.

Paisley Food and Drink Festival

SCOTLAND CALLING MUSIC O2 Academy Glasgow, o2academyglasgow.co.uk

27 APRIL–17 MAY

COLONSAY FESTIVAL OF SPRING FAMILY / MUSIC / OUTDOOR Various venues, Colonsay, colonsayspringfest.co.uk

This tiny island comes alive with a series of events that showcase its natural beauty featuring workshops and tours, whisky tasting and cake baking.

29 APRIL–4 MAY

SPIRIT OF SPEYSIDE WHISKY FESTIVAL FOOD & DRINK / MUSIC Various venues, Speyside, spiritofspeyside.com

Distilleries, shops, restaurants, pubs and villages throughout Speyside welcome visitors with an enormous array of special tastings, tours, food, music and outdoor activities.

30 APRIL

BELTANE FIRE FESTIVAL HERITAGE / OUTDOOR Calton Hill, Edinburgh, beltane.org

A modern interpretation of the ancient fertility festival of Beltane housed in the spectacular setting of Calton Hill from the Beltane Fire Society.

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2020 THE GUIDE TO SCOTLAND’S FESTIVALS

PHOTO: ALAN DIMMICK

30 APRIL–3 MAY

HIGHLANDS AND ISLANDS MUSIC AND DANCE FESTIVAL MUSIC / THEATRE & DANCE Various venues, Oban, obanfestival.org

An Oban-based festival showcasing young talent, with more than 1100 participants and 125 competition classes.

30 APRIL–3 MAY

SHETLAND FOLK FESTIVAL MUSIC Various venues, Shetland, shetlandfolkfestival.com

This internationally renowned festival – the most northerly folk gathering in the UK – hosts eclectic lineups of folk, blues, jazz and swing with a programme of workshops, sessions and concerts. Famous for showcasing Shetland musicianship, especially the unique fiddle tradition, 2020 marks the 40th edition of the festival.

30 APRIL–4 MAY

ALCHEMY FILM AND MOVING IMAGE FESTIVAL ART / FILM & TV Tower Mill, Hawick, alchemyfilmfestival.org.uk

Annual film festival with a focus on high quality artistic projects and experimental short film from around the world, mixing this with thematically-related feature-length screenings and a sprinkling of cinematic magic.

APRIL-SEPTEMBER

ARBROATH 2020 FAMILY / MULTI-ARTS Various venues, Arbroath, arbroath2020.com

A six-month festival celebrating the 700th anniversary of the 1320 Declaration of Arbroath. Events include a pageant procession, a secret coastline performance in Angus, and an embroidered tapestry in Arbroath Abbey.

GLASGOW INTERNATIONAL The biennial Glasgow International is one of the UK’s largest and most influential art festivals. This year, the event promises an ambitious programme of new commissions and exhibitions that show off the city as a centre of production and contemporary art.

For 2020, the theme is Attention and is described as ‘much a method or approach as theme’. It asks participants to consider how, where and in whom our attention is placed in the age of social media and the 24/7 news cycle.

New solo commissions come from both British and international artists including Ana Mazzei, Yuko Mohri, Nep Sidhu, Duncan Campbell, Martine Syms and Jenkin van Zyl. There will also be major film commissions by Georgina Starr and Sarah Forrest, plus a survey exhibition by Carol Rhodes that includes some unseen works.

Elsewhere, Congolese artist Bodys Isek Kingelez makes his UK debut and the festival introduces a new programme, Across the City, that aims to support Glasgow’s freelance creators. Art graduate Iman Tajik won the 2020 GI Bursary Award and his 42km performance walk between Glasgow City Centre and Dungavel is a must-see. This year’s Canal Programme, part of Year of Coast and Waters, will animate the Forth Clyde Canal with exhibitions and events bringing to life this overlooked Scottish waterway. The festival takes place all across the city, including 60 new exhibitions and events, and takes in arts venues, spaces and cultural institutions from big museums to more alternative venues.

Much of this year’s programme was made possible by funding grants from the Scottish Government’s EXPO fund and EventScotland. Fresh from the city being named by the European Commission as the top cultural and creative centre in Britain, Glasgow International will no doubt show why that accolade was well deserved. (Katharine Gemmell) ■ Various venues, Glasgow, 24 April–10 May, glasgowinternational.org 43

THE GUIDE TO SCOTLAND’S FESTIVALS 2020

MAY 1–3 MAY

BONFEST MUSIC Muirhead of Logie, Kirriemuir, bonfest.com

Fans from all over the world descend on the sleepy Angus town of Kirriemuir for a celebration of its most rock’n’roll son, AC/DC’s original frontman Bon Scott.

sessions, concerts, workshops and children’s events, all with a trad flavour.

1–3 MAY

SCAPA FEST: THE YOGA & ADVENTURE FESTIVAL FAMILY / FOOD & DRINK Ardkinglas Estate, Cairndow, scapafest.com

A yoga and adventure festival in Cairndow.

1–3 MAY

1–11 MAY

MUSIC Drimsynie House Hotel, Cairndow, giginthegoil.co.uk

MUSIC / HERITAGE Various venues, Edinburgh, edinburghtradfest.com

GIG IN THE GOIL

Gig in the Goil is a boutique music festival in the heart of Argyll with an eclectic range of musicians performing over three stages. This year’s lineup features the likes of Heron Valley, Peat & Diesel and Face the West.

1–3 MAY

GIRVAN TRADITIONAL FOLK FESTIVAL MUSIC Various venues, Girvan, girvantraditionalfolkfestival. org.uk

A weekend community folk festival run by Girvan Folk Club which features a range of open

EDINBURGH TRADFEST

Edinburgh’s TradFest kickstarts the summer season with a feast of music, storytelling, dance, folk film, literature, talks, crafts and visual arts across Scotland’s capital. Inspired by the traditions of May Day and Beltane, the festival showcases cultural traditions with a contemporary spin.

2 & 3 MAY

GLASGOW COFFEE FESTIVAL FOOD & DRINK / MUSIC The Briggait, Glasgow, glasgowcoffeefestival.com

A celebration of the mighty bean, showcasing Scotland’s speciality coffee scene. There are roasters, bars, brews and baristas hosting tastings and presentations.

There will be no disposable cups so take your own re-usable container.

4–24 MAY

SCOTTISH MENTAL HEALTH ARTS FESTIVAL FAMILY / FILM & TV Various venues, Scotland, mhfestival.com

One of Scotland’s most diverse and inclusive cultural events, combining high-quality artistic events with extensive communityled programming and a social justice agenda.

7–10 MAY

2 MAY

STEREOFUNK FESTIVAL

DUNDEAD HORROR FILM FESTIVAL

MUSIC Strathclyde Country Park, Motherwell, stereofunkevents.com

FILM & TV Dundee Contemporary Arts, Dundee, dca.org.uk

Club night Stereofunk brings you lucky folk a busy day of DJs and live music.

For the fifth year running, Dundee indulges its bloodthirsty side with a Bank Holiday weekend of cinematic thrills and scares.

With sneak previews and terrifying classics, the event has a distinctly inclusive feel, welcoming spinechilling suggestions via Twitter and Facebook.

8 & 9 MAY

PERTH BEER FESTIVAL FOOD & DRINK / MUSIC North Inch Park, Perth, perthbeerfestival.co.uk

Gig in the Goil 44

Combined beer festival and rugby sevens tournament so you have something to watch while drinking beer from around the country.

There’s also a ticketed function at night with a top notch local band.

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2020 THE GUIDE TO SCOTLAND’S FESTIVALS

8–10 MAY

8–10 MAY

FAMILY / LITERATURE Dumfries House, Cumnock, boswellbookfestival.co.uk

FAMILY / LITERATURE Ullapool Village Hall, Ullapool, ullapoolbookfestival.co.uk

BOSWELL BOOK FESTIVAL

A quirky literary festival devoted to biography and the first modern biographer, James Boswell. The festival spans talks, performances and workshops by writers, actors and artists.

8–10 MAY

COLL BIRD FESTIVAL OUTDOOR An Cridhe, Isle of Coll, collbunkhouse.com

A chance to find out about the bird life on Coll, including the elusive corncrake.

8–10 MAY

MONIAIVE FOLK FESTIVAL FAMILY / MUSIC Various venues, Moniaive, moniaivefolkfestival.com

ULLAPOOL BOOK FESTIVAL

Continuing the importance of literature in Highland culture, this festival brings together writers from the local area, Scotland and abroad, and knows how to take care of its guests: the events are organised thoughtfully so that festival-goers can attend everything.

8–24 MAY

SOUTHSIDE FRINGE MULTI-ARTS Various venues, Glasgow, southsidefringe.org.uk

A 17-day independent fringe festival that aims to broaden the scope of music, comedy, burlesque, cabaret, art and theatre events which are happening deep in Glasgow’s southside.

9 MAY

8–10 MAY

An exciting and huge wild food festival with workshops, walks, food stalls and various tastings.

ART Various venues, Fife, openstudiosfife.co.uk

This open studio event gives you the chance to visit professional artists, designers and makers in their own workspaces. Artists from across the north of Fife open up their adapted sheds and bespoke studios to display paintings, ceramics, jewellery, textiles and work in glass, metal and wood. Commission work, purchase something unique or simply enjoy the beautiful wares.

9–17 MAY

ORKNEY NATURE FESTIVAL FAMILY Various venues, Orkney, orkneynaturefestival.org

Get familiar with Orkney’s wildlife through walks, talks, activities, demonstrations, concerts and more.

9–23 MAY

FALKIRK SCIENCE FESTIVAL SCIENCE Various venues, Falkirk, falkirkcommunitytrust.org

Science festival with innovative activities, shows, talks and screenings suitable for all.

13–17 MAY

One of the country’s most civilised festivals, the Moniaive Folk Festival hosts musical sessions, a children’s programme, workshops and piping competition.

OPEN STUDIOS NORTH FIFE

between the Get Creative Weekend and the Voluntary Arts Festival. It takes place across the country and encourages people to come together and be creative in their local community.

SCOTTISH WILD FOOD FESTIVAL FOOD & DRINK Cardross Estate, Port of Menteith, foragingfortnight. co.uk/scottish-wild-food-festival

9 MAY

WOODLAND DANCE PROJECT MUSIC Midlothian, midlothian.gov.uk

A one-day music festival based at an undisclosed woodland area 20 minutes from Edinburgh.

9–17 MAY

GET CREATIVE FESTIVAL COMMUNITY Various venues, Scotland, getcreativeuk.com

Get Creative Festival is a merger

LOCH SHIEL SPRING FESTIVAL MUSIC Various venues, Loch Shiel, lochshielfestival.com

A festival of Western classical music set amid the stunning Loch Shiel. From offbeat locations to local traditions, national celebrations to innovative performances, this celebrates everything to do with chamber music. The 2020 edition of the festival will be a celebration of the life, career and legacy of Ludwig van Beethoven.

14–17 MAY

THE BRIDGE FESTIVAL MUSIC Various venues, Glasgow, scottishensemble.co.uk

A string instrument festival performed in a huge variety of venues across Glasgow.

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VARIOUS VENUES ACROSS INVERCLYDE @ComedyClyde @ClydeComedy Festival

48

RICHHALL &FRIENDS

Clyde Comedy Festival presents Rich Hall and friends at The Chartroom marquee, Kip Marina, Inverkip on

Saturday 13 June 2020 (8pm) Tickets

available on eventbrite.

In association with

6to13

Still Game stars Mark Cox (Tam), Jane June2020 McCarry (Isa) & Paul Riley ‘s (Winston) debut new show, Still Gaun! at The Beacon Arts Centre, has already sold out.

Follow Clyde Comedy VARIOUS Festival on Twitter VENUES ACROSS and Facebook for more INVERCLYDE dates and venues. @ComedyClyde @ClydeComedy Festival

In association with

2020 THE GUIDE TO SCOTLAND’S FESTIVALS

16 MAY

THEATRE & DANCE Various venues, Glasgow takemesomewhere.co.uk

FOOD & DRINK / MUSIC Tempest Brewing Co, Tweedbank, tempestbrewco. com/tempest-beer-festivals

TAKE ME SOMEWHERE

The spirit of The Arches lives on in this festival of contemporary international performance.

TEMPEST BREWERY CO SPRINGFEST

Celebrate the arrival of spring at the Tempest Brewing Co. The day features fresh brewed beer, street food and local live music.

PHOTO: STEPHEN DOB BIE

14–31 MAY

15–17 MAY

FIFESING: THE FIFE TRADITIONAL SINGING FESTIVAL FAMILY / HERITAGE / MUSIC Various venues, Fife, springthyme.co.uk/fifesing

A celebration of traditional singing for passionate vocalists and intrigued onlookers. The weekend includes a lively series of concerts, singarounds, sessions, workshops, demos and talks.

16 & 17 MAY

CAMPSIE MAYFEST ART / FAMILY / MUSIC Milton of Campsie Village Hall, Milton of Campsie, mocvh.com

Community art and music festival including art exhibitions, walks, a craft fair and live music.

16 & 17 MAY

FLY OPEN AIR FESTIVAL MUSIC Princes Street Gardens, Edinburgh, flyopenair.co.uk

15–18 MAY

FLY Open Air is a showcase of the world’s best DJs.

OUTDOOR Various venues, Arran, arranmountainfestival.co.uk

16–22 MAY

ARRAN MOUNTAIN FESTIVAL

This mountain festival features a huge variety of guided walks and scrambles throughout Arran’s stunning hills and mountains. The programme features everything from wildlife-watching walks along the island’s coastline to airy scrambles on towering granite ridges.

16 MAY

DETOX HEALTH BEAUTY WELLNESS FESTIVAL FOOD & DRINK Archerfield Walled Garden, Dirleton, detoxhealthbeauty. com

Now in its third year, this festival fills the day with mindfulness, yoga and fitness, food, beauty, massage treatments and much more.

BALLATER WALKING FESTIVAL OUTDOOR Various venues, Royal Deeside, walkballater.com

Run continuously since 1998, this festival caters to all abilities of walkers. Making the most of the magnificent views on easy, medium and strenuous walks across seven active days, the events are led by very knowledgeable local residents, full-time rangers and professional mountain guides.

18 MAY

FESTIVAL OF MUSEUMS FAMILY / HERITAGE Various venues, Scotland, festivalofmuseums.com

Staging events more than 70 museums and galleries across Scotland, the Festival of Museums is a celebration of the wealth of knowledge stored in our historic institutions.

SPOTLIGHT ON . . .

EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN’S FESTIVAL Attracting children and families from across Scotland, and theatremakers and venue operators from around the world, the Edinburgh International Children’s Festival has a deservedly strong reputation. Each year, its programme of live theatre, dance and music fires young imaginations and sparks interesting post-show conversations.

As well as homegrown productions, the festival regularly invites companies from Australia and Europe.

There’s a special focus on Flanders, a world-leading region in creating innovative theatre and dance for young audiences. An exciting collaboration with Glasgowbased Barrowland Ballet is also on the cards, with The Girl Who Flew Away inspired by the myth of Icarus.

Increased demand from schools and families to see shows means the festival will be longer than ever.

(Kelly Apter) ■ Various venues, Edinburgh, 20–31 May, imaginate.org.uk

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THE GUIDE TO SCOTLAND’S FESTIVALS 2020

PHOTO: LEIF NORMAN

Edinburgh International Children’s Festival

together to bring a roster of bookish delights to Dunbar for a weekend-long festival.

22–24 MAY

MHOR FESTIVAL FOOD & DRINK / FAMILY / THEATRE & DANCE Monachyle Mhor, Balquhidder, mhorfestival.net

A huge array of activities is on offer at this festival, including baking competitions, theatre, live music and many more activities for kids and adults alike.

22–25 MAY

CRIEFF & STRATHEARN DROVERS’ TRYST WALKING FESTIVAL 19–23 MAY

HEBRIDEAN WHISKY TRAIL FESTIVAL FOOD & DRINK Various venues, Highlands, hebrideanwhisky.com

Visit four whisky distilleries in the Highlands, take part in tastings and join exciting demonstrations during this five-day festival.

20–31 MAY

EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN’S FESTIVAL FAMILY / THEATRE & DANCE Various venues, Edinburgh, imaginate.org.uk

See Spotlight, page 49.

21–24 MAY

KNOCKENGORROCH FESTIVAL FAMILY / MUSIC Knockengorroch Farm, Castle Douglas, knockengorroch.org.uk

An outdoor festival with the emphasis on roots music, the line-up is a melting pot of world, folk, fusion and dub reggae with electronica, hip hop and drum’n’bass thrown in for good measure. This year’s line-up features Afro Celt Sound System, 50

Kel Assouf, Shooglenifty, The Poozies, Moishe’s Bagel and more.

21–24 MAY

ORKNEY FOLK FESTIVAL FAMILY / MUSIC Various venues, Orkney, orkneyfolkfestival.com

A firm fixture in the folk festival calendar since its inception in 1982, the festival’s combination of Orcadian talent and visiting musicians earned it the Event of the Year accolade at 2011’s Scots Trad Music Awards.

21–30 MAY

PERTH FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS MULTI-ARTS Various venues, Perth, perthfestival.co.uk

Music, comedy, theatre, dance and visual arts are all up for grabs at this festival.

OUTDOOR Various venues, Strathearn, droverstryst.com

Annual celebration of the life, work and play of the people who made Crieff the cattle-droving crossroads of Scotland in the 1700s. The modern day Tryst is a festival run by volunteers and built around a programme of guided walks and evening social events.

22–25 MAY

BANDSTAND BEER AND MUSIC FESTIVAL FOOD & DRINK / MUSIC Braeval Hotel, Nairn, braevalhotel.co.uk/index.asp

The largest indie beer and music festival in the Highlands, boasting more than 150 real ales, ciders and craft beers from all over the UK. Expect live music, speciality foods, whisky, charity stalls and a barbecue. The festival celebrates its 12th edition in 2020 and will feature a special performance from the Nairn Pipe Band.

22–30 MAY

22–24 MAY

COASTWORD FESTIVAL

ISLAY FESTIVAL OF MUSIC AND MALT

LITERATURE / FAMILY Dunmuir Hotel, Dunbar, coastword.co.uk

FOOD & DRINK / MUSIC Various venues, Isle of Islay, islayfestival.com

The literary community comes

See Panel, page 53.

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EVERY YEAR IT’S A BRAND NEW ADVENTURE tel: 01387 213218 email: info@spring-fling.co.uk www.spring-fling.co.uk

 springflingopenstudios  @spring_fling #SF2020  springfling

Join Us for Scotland’s Largest Rural Performing Arts Festival

FERGIE MACDONALD (THE CEILIDH KING) CLANN AN DRUMMA TORRIDON TED CHRISTOPHER & BANNOCKBURN RHUVAAL KERR JAMES THE CAMANS TARTAN SOUND GARY OVENS CONNOR FYFE ROBIN ASHCROFT WARREN CAPALDI BAR NONE CHOIR MYA BROWN CIARA WATT JODI SILVI LIAM SOMMERVILLE SANDY MCDONALD ABBY GIBSON CAMERON BOYES + MANY MORE TBC

Don’t miss out, save the date 22 - 31 May 2020 Established in 1979, ten-day performing arts festival delivered across Dumfries & Galloway with a programme of theatre, music, comedy, dance and spoken word. www.dgartsfestival.org.uk @dgartsfest #dgartsfest

F LI Powered by Dumfries & Galloway Arts Festival

A year-round programme of live performances powered by DGAF Charity Reg. No. SC000236

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Karine Polwart Blazin’ Fiddles Skerryvore Talisk Madison Violet SVER Siobhan Miller

Saltfishforty Yorkston/Thorne/Khan Fara The Chair

Blum and Haugaard Band Daimh Gnoss Kevin Henderson and Neil Pearlman Brighde Chaimbeul Dean Owens and the Southerners The Peter Wood Shetland Dance Band Edwina Hayes The Langan Band Tannara The Wrigley Sisters

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MUSIC | THEATRE | VISUAL ART |OPERA | COMEDY | LITERATURE

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2020 THE GUIDE TO SCOTLAND’S FESTIVALS

PHOTO: BEN SHAKESPEARE PHOTOGRAPHY

22–31 MAY

DUMFRIES & GALLOWAY ARTS FESTIVAL MULTI-ARTS Various venues, Dumfries & Galloway, dgartsfestival.org.uk

To say the Dumfries & Galloway Arts Festival ticks a few boxes would be an understatement.

Established in 1979 with the aim of bringing world-class artists to a mainly rural area, it has grown in confidence (and ticket sales) year on year. The ten-day family-friendly multi-arts festival boasts theatre, music, comedy, dance and spoken word.

23 MAY

VIBRATION FESTIVAL FAMILY / MUSIC Callander Park, Falkirk, vibrationfestival.com

The line-up for this family-friendly festival has yet to be announced, but the roster in 2019 included the likes of Feeder and The Coral.

23 & 24 MAY

OBAN, LORN AND THE ISLES’ FESTIVAL OF THE SEA FAMILY / OUTDOOR Ocean Explorer Centre, Oban, obanseafestival.org

A festival celebrating our marine environment. Largely based at the Ocean Explorer Centre, the weekend features talks, workshops, craft activities and boat trips.

23 & 24 MAY

EDINBURGH MARATHON FESTIVAL OUTDOOR Bristo Square, Edinburgh, edinburghmarathon.com

Scotland’s largest running festival of its kind with seven races to choose from over two days, including the marathon, team relay and junior races.

ISLAY FESTIVAL OF MUSIC AND MALT The island famous for its peaty whiskies brims with music, dance and drams during the Islay Festival of Music and Malt, or Fèis ìle.

A week-long celebration of island living and Gaelic arts and culture set against Islay’s stunning natural scenery, the festival started as a means of protecting the island’s indigenous language in 1984, and now prepares for its 34th edition in 2020.

From ceilidhs to golf lessons, Gaelic lessons to a vibrant trad music programme, the Islay Festival of Music and Malt’s wide range of offerings comprises a main programme and a distillery programme, the latter of which focuses on Islay’s renowned ‘water of life’.

Throughout the festival, Islay’s famed distilleries — which include the likes of Ardbeg, Lagavulin and Laphroaig — hold open-days and in-depth masterclasses, so that visitors can get a backstage glimpse into the process of crafting these distinctive single malts.

Though the full details of the 2020 programme have yet to be announced, it’s been confirmed that the annual first fling will feature Celtic pop ensemble Dougal’s Jumper and the Midgies Ceilidh Band.

Last year, the festival featured storytelling collaborations with the Islay Book Festival, whisky nosing and pairing events, a fly-fishing competition and live music from the likes of Skerryvore, The Black Rock Ceilidh Band, The Coaltown Daisies and The Islay Pipe Band.

Moreover, as a non-profit and entirely volunteer-run festival, every penny from the revelries goes back to supporting the island’s local communities. So raise a measure to the welcome return of this much-beloved summer festival. (Deborah Chu) ■ Various venues, Isle of Islay, 22–30 May, islayfestival.com 53

THE GUIDE TO SCOTLAND’S FESTIVALS 2020

23 & 24 MAY

RIVERSIDE FESTIVAL MUSIC Riverside Museum, Glasgow, riversidefestivalglasgow.com

The Electric Frog crew and Pressure once again join forces to present their outdoor electronic music festival.

gardeningscotland.com Scotland’s national celebration of gardening and outdoor living is back with show gardens, plant sales, food and craft fairs, and environmental organisations.

29–31 MAY

23–25 MAY

SPRING FLING

THE UNIVERSITY OF ABERDEEN MAY FESTIVAL

FAMILY / MULTI-ARTS Various venues, Dumfries & Galloway, spring-fling.co.uk

FAMILY / MULTI-ARTS Various venues, Aberdeen, abdn. ac.uk/mayfestival

A vibrant open studios event covering the length and breadth of Dumfries & Galloway.

24 MAY

CANAL FESTIVAL: TIME MACHINE MULTI-ARTS / OUTDOOR The Falkirk Wheel, Falkirk scottishcanals.co.uk/falkirk-wheel

Outdoor festival running along the Forth & Clyde Canal from the Falkirk Wheel to The Kelpies.

28–31 MAY

ANGUS GLENS WALKING FESTIVAL OUTDOOR Gateway to the Glens Museum, Kirriemuir, angusglenswalkingfestival.com

A festival attracting thousands of visitors to the Granite City. The programme features a diverse range of cultural activities, including music, film, literature and food-related events.

29–31 MAY

TWEEDLOVE BIKE FESTIVAL FAMILY / MUSIC / OUTDOOR Tweed Green, Peebles tweedlove.com/ tweedlovebikefestival

Now celebrating its 10th anniversary, this is a great excuse to enjoy some of the country’s best tracks and trails, plus street food, cinema, music and more.

GARDENING SCOTLAND FAMILY / OUTDOOR Royal Highland Centre, Edinburgh, 54

31 MAY

DUMFRIES & GALLOWAY SCIENCE FESTIVAL FAMILY / SCIENCE Easterbrook Hall, Dumfries, dgsciencefestival.org.uk

Family-oriented science fest from the makers of Glasgow Science Festival, with drop-in displays and exhibitions, and loads of science-y fun for everyone.

MAY, DATES TBC

ITALIAN FILM FESTIVAL FILM & TV Various venues, Scotland, italianfilmfestival.org.uk

This festival celebrates the best of Italian cinema, bringing it across the waters and all the way up to Scotland.

LITERATURE Various venues, West Dunbartonshire west-dunbarton.gov.uk/libraries

Taking over the West End of Glasgow, this festival has a great musical line-up, a carnival and the Hidden Lane open days.

29–31 MAY

A festival celebrating the very best of The Highlands and Scotland with a focus on folk and trad music alongside local food and drink.

FAMILY / MULTI-ARTS Various venues, Glasgow, westendfestival.co.uk

29 & 30 MAY

Not-for-profit community music festival featuring local and up-and-coming musicians.

FOOD & DRINK / MUSIC Northern Meeting Park Arena, Inverness, thegatheringscotland. com

MAY, DATES TBC

WEST END FESTIVAL

FAMILY / MUSIC Pitmedden Garden, Ellon, pitmeddenmusic.com

THE GATHERING

29 MAY–28 JUNE

Dozens of walks over four days from gentle coastal strolls to exhilarating hikes.

PITMEDDEN MUSIC FESTIVAL

30 MAY

BOOKED!

A free, local literature festival run by West Dunbartonshire Libraries that manages to book some big name authors for its programme.

30 MAY

EAGLESHAM BEER FESTIVAL FOOD & DRINK Eaglesham Playing Fields, East Renfrewshire, eagleshambeerfest.uk

This community beer festival celebrates the best of local and national food and drink, all of which is complemented with live music.

MAY, DATES TBC

FOLK FILM GATHERING

FILM & TV Filmhouse, Edinburgh folkfilmgathering.com

Folk film festival with a focus on songs and labour and their importance to communities around the world.

LIST.CO.UK/FESTIVALS

2020 THE GUIDE TO SCOTLAND’S FESTIVALS

JUNE 1–5 JUNE

ABERDEEN AND NORTH EAST OF SCOTLAND MUSIC FESTIVAL MUSIC / THEATRE & DANCE Various venues, Aberdeen, nespa.scot

Aberdeen’s oldest and original music, drama and dance festival.

Running since 1909, this summer festival features competitions in storytelling, Scots verse, mime, classical music performance and choral singing.

1–30 JUNE

MARINE FEST FAMILY / SCIENCE Scottish Seabird Centre, North Berwick, seabird.org

An interactive festival running throughout June to celebrate Scottish marine wildlife with walks, talks, shows and craft activities.

4–7 JUNE

DUMBARTON FESTIVAL RIVER TOWN ART / MUSIC Dumbarton Town Centre, Dumbarton, dumbarton2020. co.uk

A brand new music, art and cultural festival celebrating the town’s history and tradition.

4–14 JUNE

GLASGOW SCIENCE FESTIVAL: GLASGOW STEAMS AHEAD! FAMILY / SCIENCE Various venues, Glasgow, glasgowsciencefestival.org.uk

A packed programme of workshops, shows, films, exhibitions and art collaborations allows budding scientists to sit back and learn something new or don safety goggles and take part in an experiment. The theme for 2020 is Glasgow’s Making Waves, in keeping with the Scottish theme of 2020 being the Year of Coasts and Waters.

WILDHOOD Set amongst the sprawling grounds of Tullibole Castle, in the shadow of Perthshire’s hills, the WILDHOOD children’s festival provides a farm-tastic weekend for kids under 12 and their families. The specially created weekend won Best Cultural Event at the Regional Finals of the Scottish Thistle Awards and it’s not hard to see why.

WILDHOOD lets families unplug from daily life by spending the weekend outdoors, exploring and getting artistic through family activities, arts and crafts, and theatrical magic in a farmyard setting.

Families can camp out during the weekend in a specially created camping village, set in an ancient woodland, with Luxe showers and a cosy atmosphere. Or why not treat yourself to a bit of luxury with their sumptuous Dragonfly Yurt option? This year’s festival is inspired by a ‘field to fork’ ethos and celebrates the food that we eat, the soil that makes it, the seasons that create it and the people who plant it.

It will incorporate all that is good about sustainability, seasonality and sowing the seeds of love for our planet throughout its jampacked programme. Festival-goers can expect to meet farmers, camp on the land, dress up for a festival parade, forage in the forest and engage in lots of play. Other activities include yoga and dance sessions, arts and crafts, music and mythology, storytelling, nature adventures and street food at the WILDHOOD kitchen.

Sustainability is at the heart of the festival with no single-use plastic being used, a clean-up and a BYO reusable picnicware rule.

(Katharine Gemmell) ■ Tullibole Castle, Kinross, 6 & 7 June, wildhoodfestival.com 55

THE GUIDE TO SCOTLAND’S FESTIVALS 2020

5 & 6 JUNE

JUNIPER FESTIVAL FOOD & DRINK Summerhall, Edinburgh, juniperfestival.co.uk/

With top producers allowing you to try before you buy, as well as gin talks, cocktails, food stalls and handmade fashions and crafts on sale, the Juniper Festival celebrates all things related to gin.

5–7 JUNE

CYMERA LITERATURE Pleasance, Edinburgh cymerafestival.co.uk

A second outing for this genre fiction festival taking place in the Scottish capital.

5–7 JUNE

FISHERFOLK FESTIVAL HERITAGE / MUSIC Seaboard Memorial Hall, Balintore, seaboardcentre.com

A celebration of the history and heritage of the Ross-shire Seaboard villages. Events include a special dinner on the Friday plus a street party, ceilidhs, music, food, art, workshops and more.

5–7 JUNE

PORTSOY MUSIC FESTIVAL: THE ELEVENTH HAAL MUSIC The Salmon Bothy, Banff, bothyfolk.org

A three-day festival which captures the varied music traditions of the north of Scotland, everything is here from bothy ballads to Burns as well as Celtic, folk, Americana and Irish-influenced music.

5–8 JUNE

FYNEFEST FAMILY / FOOD & DRINK / MUSIC Fyne Ales, Achadunan, fynefest. com

Beer is the star at FyneFest, with a wide variety of brews from the UK and beyond, though it takes pains 56

to be kid-friendly with various entertainments, and, of course, a slew of live music.

world’s best riders, as well as the World Cup Village offering demos, mountain bike goodies and entertainment.

6 JUNE

EDINBURGH WHISKY FESTIVAL FOOD & DRINK Assembly Rooms, Edinburgh, thewhiskylounge.com

Pairing up with The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, this event brings a huge range of whiskies from Scotland and around the world to the capital, and features a series of masterclasses.

6 JUNE

INNERLEITHEN PIPE BAND CHAMPIONSHIPS HERITAGE / MUSIC Victoria Park, Innerleithen, stronanspipingsociety.org

A pipe band contest featuring four grades of competition and a drum majors’ contest, with massed bands and prize-giving.

6 JUNE

LILIAS DAY FESTIVAL FAMILY / FOOD & DRINK / MUSIC Kilbarchan Park, Kilbarchan, liliasday.co.uk

This year’s event has a historic parade through the village followed by decorated floats, pipe and brass bands and fancy dress.

6 & 7 JUNE

WILDHOOD: A CHILDREN’S FESTIVAL FAMILY / MULTI-ARTS Tullibole Castle, Kinross, wildhoodfestival.com

See Panel, page 55.

7 JUNE

DUNDEE WESTFEST: BIG SUNDAY FAMILY / MUSIC Magdalen Green, Dundee, dundeewestfest.org

Magdalen Green is filled with attractions, arts and crafts, live music, food stalls, carnival rides and more for a full day of family fun.

11–13 JUNE

ST KILDA CHALLENGE & FESTIVAL OUTDOOR Various venues, Lochmaddy, thestkildachallenge.co.uk

The St Kilda challenge is an annual international yacht race from Lochmaddy, North Uist to St Kilda.

11–14 JUNE

BORDERS BOOK FESTIVAL

TASTE OF GRAMPIAN

LITERATURE / FAMILY Harmony Garden, Melrose, bordersbookfestival.org

FOOD & DRINK P&J Live, Aberdeen tasteofgrampian.co.uk

11–14 JUNE

6 JUNE

See Panel, page 59.

The largest food festival in the north of Scotland showcasing local produce and offering much fun entertainment for all the family.

THE EDEN FESTIVAL

6 & 7 JUNE

This annual festival brings you live music, dance, cabaret, burlesque, circus skills, theatre, games and much more. Among the various stages last year were The Lost Disco, a Vishnu Lounge and The Thunderdome.

UCI MOUNTAIN BIKE WORLD CUP FAMILY / OUTDOOR Various venues, Fort William fortwilliamworldcup.co.uk

Mountain bike action from the

FAMILY / MUSIC / THEATRE & DANCE Raehills Meadows, Moffat, edenfestival.co.uk

LIST.CO.UK/FESTIVALS

7–31 AUGUST 2020 Join the world’s greatest artists this August

Photo: Hard To Be Soft ©Ray Buchanan | Charity number SC004694

eif.co.uk #edintfest

Tickets on sale from 28 March

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THE GUIDE TO SCOTLAND’S FESTIVALS 2020

12–14 JUNE

12 JUNE–12 JULY

FAMILY / FOOD & DRINK Anstruther Harbour, Anstruther, anstrutherharbourfestival.co.uk

FAMILY / OUTDOOR Various venues, Glasgow uefa.com/uefaeuro-2020/eventguide/glasgow/uefa-festival/ festival

ANSTRUTHER HARBOUR FESTIVAL

Family-friendly food festival based in Anstruther and featuring local food and producers, as well as children’s activities, tastings and demonstrations.

SPOTLIGHT ON . . .

EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL This year marks the 74th edition of the capital’s world-famous film festival.

Among the many highlights will be retrospective strand The Big Score, which pays serious homage to the soundtrack work of various pioneers, including screenings of Under the Skin (Mica Levi), Dracula AD 1972 (Delia Derbyshire) and Cinema Paradiso (Ennio Morricone).

Plus All That Jazz will explore movies with timeless soundtracks created by the likes of John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Bernard Herrmann and Quincy Jones. As an extra treat alongside the main festival’s programme, and arriving as part of Scotland’s Year of Coasts and Waters, there’s a weekend of free outdoor screenings (6 & 7 June) under the umbrella of Film Fest on the Forth, taking place at Port Edgar Marina in South Queensferry.

(Brian Donaldson) ■ Various venues, Edinburgh, 17–28 June, edfilmfest.org.uk

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UEFA FESTIVAL

Celebrate UEFA EURO 2020 in style with a programme of free events, including a football village, fan zone and other events.

12–14 JUNE

13 & 14 JUNE

MUSIC Brodick, Isle of Arran, arranevents.com

FAMILY / FOOD & DRINK Various venues, Crail, crailfoodfest.co.uk

ARRAN FOLK FESTIVAL

The island known for being Scotland in miniature presents a weekend of folk, with sessions, concerts and ceilidhs.

12–14 JUNE

POTFEST SCOTLAND ART Scone Palace, Perth, potfest. co.uk

CRAIL FOOD FESTIVAL

A weekend of food and drink events in the coastal village of Crail, with plenty of sampling as well as food demonstrations and talks from independent producers across Fife. There will also be music events and children’s activities plus indoor and outdoor markets.

Scotland’s International Ceramics Festival features over 100 ceramic artists selling their work, as well as workshops, demonstrations and classes.

13 & 14 JUNE

12–14 JUNE

A food and drink festival celebrating local eating and drinking. Dedicated to promoting quality, well-sourced food, there are tastings, pop-up restaurants, producers and traders to meet, organic food stalls and demonstrations.

TMSA KEITH FESTIVAL FAMILY / HERITAGE / MUSIC Various venues, Keith, tmsakeithfestival.blogspot.com

Traditional music, song, poetry and dance in Keith across a platform of competitions as well as spectator events, culminating in a traditional farewell concert and ceilidh.

12–21 JUNE

MORAY WALKING & OUTDOOR FESTIVAL OUTDOOR Various venues, Moray, themorayway.org.uk

A series of walks in the varied landscape of Scotland’s Malt Whisky Country. Take in the sights along sandy beaches, over hilltops, past railway tracks and in the footsteps of whisky smugglers.

BALLANTRAE FESTIVAL OF FOOD & DRINK FOOD & DRINK Various venues, Ballantrae, ballantraefoodfest.com

13–15 JUNE

EDINBURGH FILM FEST IN THE CITY FILM & TV St Andrew Square, Edinburgh, edfilmfest.org.uk/filmfestinthecity

This three-day summer weekend event is an increasingly popular selection of free open-air movie screenings held in partnership between Essential Edinburgh and Edinburgh International Film Festival, and produced by Unique Events.

LIST.CO.UK/FESTIVALS

2020 THE GUIDE TO SCOTLAND’S FESTIVALS

PHOTO: BORDERS BOOK FESTIVAL

13–21 JUNE

LEITH FESTIVAL HERITAGE / MULTI-ARTS Various venues, Leith, Edinburgh, leithfestival.com

The vibrant community of Leith shows off its abundant festival skills with a fun-packed programme of events including art exhibitions, live concerts, walks, talks and films. Have a special look out for the Festival Gala Day and the Leith Festival Tattoo as this proud Edinburgh area displays its wares.

15–24 JUNE

REFUGEE FESTIVAL SCOTLAND COMMUNITY / MULTI-ARTS Various venues, Scotland, refugeefestivalscotland.co.uk

Refugee Festival Scotland is a nationwide series of events co-ordinated by Scottish Refugee Council. Centred around World Refugee Day, this annual festival of arts and cultural events celebrates the contribution which refugees make to Scottish cultural life and also marks the welcome offered by local people. This June’s edition marks Refugee Festival Scotland’s 20th year.

17–21 JUNE

HORSECROSS YOUTH ARTS FESTIVAL FAMILY / THEATRE & DANCE Various venues, Perth, horsecross.co.uk

A Perth festival by children and young people for children and young people, featuring performances and showcases by Horsecross Arts, with an emphasis on theatre and dance.

17–28 JUNE

EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL FAMILY / FILM & TV Various venues, Edinburgh, edfilmfest.org.uk

See Spotlight, page 58.

BORDERS BOOK FESTIVAL From a small gathering of book lovers in the summer of 2004 to a four-day celebration of literature with thousands of people in attendance, the Baillie Gifford Borders Book Festival has come a long way. Alistair Moffat and Paula Ogilvie have been involved in the festival’s organisation since day one, bringing some of the best literary talent to the Scottish Borders.

The festival has called several venues home over the years, from The Wynd Theatre to The Corn Exchange, but Harmony Garden is where this long weekend of book events now resides. The extended space allows the festival to also welcome teepees, stretch tents, a vintage mobile cinema by the name of Audrey, a crème brûlée van and old fire engines selling delicious hotdogs.

The programme for this year’s edition has yet to be announced but the 15th anniversary celebration in 2019 included well-known names such as comedian Susan Calman, Scottish politician Ruth Davidson and sporting legend Bob Champion, across more than 100 events. For the younger book lovers, the Borders Book Festival offers the Family Book Festival, filled with some of the best children’s authors and a variety of fun activities, alongside a partnership with Borders Young Creatives, Youth Music Forum and Borders Youth Theatre, which aims to support young and local talent in the arts. (Sofia Matias) ■ Harmony Garden, Melrose, 11–14 June, bordersbookfestival.org 59

THE GUIDE TO SCOTLAND’S FESTIVALS 2020

18 & 19 JUNE

DUNDEE SUMMER STREETS FESTIVAL FAMILY / MULTI-ARTS City Square, Dundee dundee.com

Free aerial shows, street entertainment, live music, workshops and more in this street festival.

19–21 JUNE

SOLAS FESTIVAL MULTI-ARTS Errol Park, Errol, solasfestival. co.uk

A midsummer music and arts festival in the heart of Perth and Kinross with performances and workshops in world music, theatre, dance, literature and visual arts, as well as talks and debates.

18–20 JUNE

THE GLASGOW REAL ALE FESTIVAL FOOD & DRINK The Briggait, Glasgow, glasgowrealalefestival.co.uk

This real ale festival, organised by the Glasgow and West of Scotland branch of CAMRA, features more than 150 local and international ales, ciders and beers.

18–21 JUNE

DRUMLANRIG OFF-ROAD MOTORSPORT FESTIVAL OUTDOOR Drumlanrig Castle and Country Estate, Thornhill, drumlanrigcastle.co.uk

Family-friendly festival that features multiple disciplines within motor sport, including flat-field motorcross and off-road bike trials.

19–25 JUNE

ST MAGNUS INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL MUSIC / THEATRE & DANCE Various venues, Orkney, stmagnusfestival.com

St Magnus is a prestigious music festival that invites international orchestras, recitalists, theatre and literature to the Orkney Islands for a week around Midsummer.

MUSIC McLaren Hall, Killin, killinmusicfestival.com

An electric three-day festival of music featuring live bands and artists, as well as fringe events throughout the village over the weekend.

19–21 JUNE

MUCKLE TOON ADVENTURE FESTIVAL FAMILY / OUTDOOR Various venues, Langholm, muckletoonadventurefestival. co.uk

Family adventure festival featuring cycling, running and guided walks.

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25-27 JUNE

SCREEN.DANCE FILM & TV / THEATRE & DANCE Perth Theatre, Perth, screen.dance

A celebration of Scottish dance and its connection with cinema, featuring screenings, artist talks and installations.

26–28 JUNE

ARRAN MALT & MUSIC FESTIVAL FOOD & DRINK / MUSIC Isle of Arran Distillers Ltd, Lochranza, arranwhisky.com

Brush up your whisky knowledge with a series of masterclasses in food pairings, cocktails and Arran whiskies. There is also live music.

20 & 21 JUNE

SCOTTISH TRADITIONAL BOAT FESTIVAL

26–28 JUNE

FAMILY / MUSIC Various venues, Portsoy, stbfportsoy.org

MUSIC Wanlockhead Inn, Wanlockhead, wildfirefestival.co.uk

As traditional boats congregate in the historic harbour, the seaside town of Portsoy celebrates with a festival of music, sailing, rowing and traditional crafts and art.

19–21 JUNE

KILLIN MUSIC FESTIVAL

crafts, publishing, screen and broadcast as well as music. There are workshops, masterclasses, conferences and showcases.

21 JUNE

MIDSUMMER MUSIC FESTIVAL MUSIC Scottish Crannog Centre, Kenmore, crannog.co.uk

The annual Midsummer Music Festival at the Scottish Crannog Centre, which evocatively features Scottish music around a log fire, is warmly welcomed back for 2020.

WILDFIRE FESTIVAL

Scotland throws up the devil horns for its award-winning rock and metal festival.

27 & 28 JUNE

YOUTH BEATZ MUSIC Various venues, Dumfries, youthbeatz.co.uk

Scotland’s biggest free youth music festival provides opportunities for young people to gain experience of organising, performing and producing a largescale event.

DATES TBC

24 & 25 JUNE

CLYDE COMEDY FESTIVAL

FILM & TV / MUSIC Various venues, Inverness, xponorth.co.uk

COMEDY Various venues, Greenock, facebook.com/ ClydeComedyFestival

XPONORTH

A two-day cross-genre film and television festival devoted to

A second outing for this freshly squeezed comedy festival.

LIST.CO.UK/FESTIVALS

32nd STONEHAVEN FOLK FESTIVAL Flook, Shoogletifty, Kris Drever, Rura, Paul McKenna Band, Workshops, Sessions, Singarounds, World Paper’n’Comb Champioships, Aqua Ceilidh, more tbc.

www.stonehavenfolkfestival.co.uk

15–31 August 2020 The World, in Words.

900 events featuring 1000 authors, poets, musicians and artists, plus cafés, bookshops and bars all in one central leafy tented village.

Programme launch: 11 June Tickets on sale from 27 June edbookfest.co.uk @edbookfest 61

THE GUIDE TO SCOTLAND’S FESTIVALS 2020

JULY 1–5 JULY

EAST NEUK FESTIVAL ART / LITERATURE / MUSIC Various venues, East Neuk, eastneukfestival.com

World-class, critically-acclaimed music, art and literature converge on this busy corner in the Kingdom of Fife. Though chamber music remains at the heart of its impressive programme, the festival also includes musical surprises, international authors and imaginative artworks, all located in quirky venues.

3–5 JULY

GWCT SCOTTISH GAME FAIR FAMILY Scone Palace, Perth, scottishfair.com

Three days of country sport, competitions and main ring events at this family-friendly fair. There’s falconry, gun dogs, pipe bands, cookery demonstrations, shooting and a veritable myriad of traders and stalls. The 2020 programme is the 32nd Fair and will include the popular Cookery Theatre and the Junior Macnab competition.

3–6 JULY

KELBURN GARDEN PARTY FAMILY / MUSIC Kelburn Castle and Country Centre, Fairlie, kelburngardenparty.com

See Spotlight, page 66.

3–12 JULY

THE SKYE FESTIVAL: FÈIS AN EILEIN HERITAGE / MUSIC Various venues, Isle of Skye, seall.co.uk/feis-an-eileinskyefestival

This summer arts festival began in 1991 and celebrates island culture and performing arts with a strong focus on Scottish 62

traditional music. For 2020, the festival is relaunched as a tenday event, with the theme of Scotland’s Coasts and Waters.

4 JULY

GLASGOW COMIC CON LITERATURE Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow, glasgowcomiccon.com

Glasgow Comic Con, celebrating its tenth anniversary in 2020, is a highly popular annual event which focuses on showcasing sequential art, and will once again host a wide range of established and up-and-coming creators from across the globe.

4 JULY

SMA’ SHOT DAY FAMILY Town Centre, Paisley, paisley.is

Sma’ Shot Day is one of the oldest workers’ festivals in the world. The programme for 2020 includes a special performance of Colours of the Cart – a spectacular aerial, ground and water-based performance – in celebration of Scotland’s Year of Coasts and Waters.

4 & 5 JULY

TARBERT SEAFOOD FESTIVAL FAMILY / FOOD & DRINK Tarbert Harbour, Loch Fyne, tarbertfestivals.co.uk

An opportunity to sample the internationally renowned seafood (and other types of cuisine) from the waters of Loch Fyne. Offmenu there is a parade, music and stalls all situated around Tarbert’s picturesque harbour.

4–6 JULY

NEWCASTLETON TRADITIONAL MUSIC FESTIVAL FAMILY / MUSIC Various venues, Newcastleton, newcastleton.com

This is a family-focused festival of traditional music,

featuring workshops, ceilidhs and concerts plus adult and children’s competitions. A healthy attitude of hands-on music-making is positively encouraged here. In 2020, the 51st edition aims to get back to basics, featuring ceilidhs, dances, concerts, competitions and sessions.

5–10 JULY

CANTILENA FESTIVAL ON ISLAY MUSIC Various venues, Isle of Islay, cantilenafestival.co.uk

The beautiful island of Islay plays proud host to a repertoire of world-class classical music.

Focusing on collaboration, education and creativity, the festival encourages participants to push their boundaries. This is echoed in a summer school that allows young musicians to work with more established practitioners.

5–10 JULY

CEÒLAS MUSIC Various venues, Uist, ceolas.co.uk

Annual summer school focusing on the connections between Scottish traditional music and Gaelic song and dance, with expert tuition and workshops plus lectures, demonstrations, concerts and ceilidhs.

10–12 JULY

NEWTON STEWART AND MINNIGAFF TRADITIONAL MUSIC AND DANCE FESTIVAL MUSIC / THEATRE & DANCE Various venues, Newton Stewart, tradmusic.com

This traditional music and dance festival in Dumfries and Galloway features concerts, workshops, tune and song sessions, Highland dancing and pipe bands.

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PHOTO: STEVIE POWERS/RECOMPOSE

10–12 JULY

STONEHAVEN FOLK FESTIVAL MUSIC Various venues, Stonehaven, stonehavenfolkfestival.co.uk

The line-up for Stonehaven combines old folky favourites as well as some exciting new acts in a packed programme of concerts, ceilidh, workshops, sessions and the Tradition Bearers Concert.

10–12 JULY

TIREE MUSIC FESTIVAL FAMILY / MUSIC Various venues, Isle of Tiree, tireemusicfestival.co.uk

With its picture-perfect white sands and world-famous surf, the Tiree Music Festival has been described as one of the most stunning festival locations in the world.

For this year’s event, the festival’s tagline is ‘where music meets the ocean’.

10–12 JULY

TRNSMT FESTIVAL MUSIC Glasgow Green, Glasgow, trnsmtfest.com

The pop and rock-heavy city centre festival returns to Glasgow for its fourth edition, with their 2020 line-up set to feature the top-notch likes of Lewis ‘America’s Sweetheart’ Capaldi, Courteneers, Ian Brown, Foals, Liam Gallagher, Sam Fender, Rita Ora, Twin Atlantic and Snow Patrol.

11–19 JULY

UNSTFEST FAMILY / MUSIC Various venues, Unst, unstfest.org

Britain’s most northerly festival on Britain’s most northerly island is a family-friendly affair featuring fiddle workshops, go-kart races, film screenings and live music well worth travelling all the way up there for.

DOUNE THE RABBIT HOLE The Cardross Estate outside Stirling is the setting for Doune the Rabbit Hole, a boutique festival boasting a strong line-up of music, theatre, comedy and spoken-word performances. The festival celebrated its tenth anniversary last year with a stellar music lineup which included John Grant, Kathryn Joseph, Battles and Lee Scratch Perry.

Last year also featured the introduction of Douniversity, a series of talks and interactive workshops about music, politics, science, the media and more, which included a talk by Kristinn Hrafnsson, the editor-in-chief of WikiLeaks. With any luck, Doune the Rabbit Hole has some equally exceptional artists and speakers in store for 2020.

The relaxed festival is renowned for its family-friendly activities, and features a children’s tent where kids and their parents can participate in workshops, crafts, games, theatre, baking, silent disco, readings and more. Workshops for adults include everything from DJing to knitting and parkour to wild food picking, and there’s even a jam tent for aspiring musicians. Storytelling, open mic and singalongs take place at the Tum-Tum Tree, while those looking to wind down can head to the Sasan-Gasana for massages, alternative therapies and yoga classes.

Doune the Rabbit Hole is an environmentally-conscious festival and has set a goal to be a zero-use plastics site this year. There’s plenty of camping space available, including a brand new exclusive quiet area, and there are also glamping options available for those who would rather leave the tent at home. (Megan Forsyth) ■ Cardross Estate, Port of Menteith, 17–19 July, dounetherabbithole.co.uk 63

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The globe’s biggest gathering of arts and culture just gets bigger and bolder. Kelly Apter shines a light on the main events taking place in the Scottish capital during July and August

ED I NB UR G H R OC KS E

dinburgh is known for many things: its rich history, architecture, Hogmanay celebrations and the Scottish Parliament to name a few. But mention the city to most people outside Scotland, and chances are the thing they’re most aware of is the Festival.

Those in the know recognise that actually the ‘Edinburgh Festival’ isn’t just one event, but several events all co-existing in perfect harmony. Most of them take place in August, when the city swells with the arrival of artists of every kind from around the globe, and people eager to lap up their wares.

Due to its sheer size and scale, the Edinburgh Festival Fringe (7–31 Aug) is perhaps the most famous. Started in 1947, the Fringe is open to anyone and everyone: if you want to put on a show, then you’re welcome to get involved.

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Comedy and theatre are the dominant forces, but there’s also a wealth of live music, dance, cabaret, circus and shows for children and young people.

Spaces all around the city are used as venues, from theatres to church halls, and bars to university lecture rooms, with shows taking place from first thing in the morning to the wee small hours. Last year there were a staggering 3841 shows across 323 venues, and the 2020 version is likely to be even bigger. Shows go on sale in January, with the full programme launched on 10 June.

While anyone can take part in the Fringe, the Edinburgh International Festival (7–31 Aug) is a bit more choosy. This internationally acclaimed event is entirely curated, with programmers cherry picking the best theatre, LIST.CO.UK/FESTIVALS

2020 THE GUIDE TO SCOTLAND’S FESTIVALS

dance, opera and music from around the world.

With performances in some of the city’s finest venues, including the Usher Hall, Edinburgh Festival Theatre and Playhouse, the EIF lineup always includes big names and established figures, but isn’t afraid to take risks by programming exciting new work.

Running alongside the Fringe dateswise, the International Festival will once again open with an impressive large-scale free event and close with the hugely popular fireworks display in Princes Street Gardens. The full programme will be launched on 18 March, with Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra already announced as a big draw for classical music lovers.

Events at the Edinburgh International Book Festival (15–31 Aug) can sell out within days (sometimes hours) of going on sale, so be sure to check out this year’s programme soon after its launch in June. Based in its purpose-built home in Charlotte Square Gardens, the Book Festival invites literary talent from around the world to deliver readings, discussions and signings for adults and children.

Best-selling authors, poets, politicians, photographers, musicians, historians, biographers and more will be in the line-up, triggering thought-provoking and stimulating discussions across all genres. In previous years, many of the world’s leading writers, including the likes of Paul Auster, George RR Martin, Malala and Chelsea Clinton, have been in attendance.

Compared to the Fringe, International and Book events, the Edinburgh Art Festival (30 Jul–30 Aug) is a relative newcomer on the block, but has still built up a very impressive reputation over the past 16 years. Running for four weeks, the Art Festival champions work by hundreds of visual artists from across Scotland and the world.

In 2019, it presented more than 50 exhibitions and 140 events in galleries, museums and exciting, unexpected spaces across the city, most of which were free to attend. This year, you can expect the usual blend of new work by internationally-renowned and emerging artists, retrospectives, pop-up exhibitions and a diverse range of talks and events.

Although not a festival as such, the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo (7–29 Aug) has been an intrinsic part of Edinburgh in August for the past 70 years. Each August, Edinburgh Castle Esplanade becomes a hub of performance, military displays, live music and fireworks, attracting visitors from around the world.

As you might expect from the Tattoo’s big anniversary year, it promises to be truly spectacular with more than 1200 performers heading our way. This year’s theme is Platinum Edition and will mark the Tattoo’s rich history, as well as celebrating 70 years of music, culture and military tradition, and Scotland’s Year of Coasts and Waters.

With so much happening during August, thank goodness the Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival (17–26 Jul) gets the city warmed up in July. The Jazz Festival started in 1979 and was ambitious right from the start, inviting bands from the US and Paris to rub shoulders with local musicians in bars and hotels across the city.

Forty years later, that fine ethos remains, with this curated festival always featuring a strong mix of international bands and Scotlandbased artists, playing a diverse range of contemporary and traditional jazz and blues. The 2020 festival programme is due to be announced around April and May. 65

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SPOTLIGHT ON . . .

KELBURN GARDEN PARTY Kelburn Garden Party is a vibrant independent music and arts festival with a fairytale setting on Scotland’s west coast. The festival site is conveniently located less than an hour from Glasgow on the picture perfect grounds and glen around the 13th century Kelburn Castle near Largs.

The castle is recognised around the world for its colourful exterior and it became an international icon of street art after four Brazilian graffiti artists painted it in 2007.

The festival, established in 2009, consistently boasts a diverse live music line-up, featuring new artists from Scotland and around the world performing everything from techno to disco, funk to jazz, dub to jungle, house to afrobeat, hip hop to folk.

Other creative attractions and activities include interactive art installations, living theatre, pop-up parties and more.

(Megan Forsyth) ■ Kelburn Castle and Country Centre, Fairlie, 3–6 July, kelburngardenparty.com

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15–18 JULY

17–19 JULY

FAMILY / MUSIC Various venues, Stornoway, hebceltfest.com

MUSIC Scone Palace, Perth, rewindfestival.com

16–26 JULY

17–26 JULY

MUSIC Paxton House and Country Park, Paxton, musicatpaxton. co.uk

MUSIC Various venues, Edinburgh, edinburghjazzfestival.com

HEBCELT

This family-friendly music festival celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2020, featuring a showcase of Celtic, traditional and contemporary music with a particularly strong focus on Gaelic culture.

MUSIC AT PAXTON

Top quality international chamber music in the beautiful surroundings of Paxton House, an 18th-century Palladian Country House near Berwick.

REWIND SCOTLAND

Rewind goes large on nostalgia with a line-up of 80s and 90s artists to perform together in Scotland. Last year featured Foreigner, Lulu, Midge Ure, Big Country and Paul Young while Martin Kemp laid on a DJ set.

EDINBURGH JAZZ AND BLUES FESTIVAL

Scotland’s biggest jazz festival presents concerts over ten days all over the capital, in parks, churches, clubs and concert halls.

18 & 19 JULY

16 JULY–30 AUGUST

KING TUT’S SUMMER NIGHTS MUSIC King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut, Glasgow, kingtuts.co.uk

Music festival exhibiting the country’s freshest new musical talent, in collaboration with Coors Light.

MAKING WAVES FESTIVAL FAMILY / MUSIC / THEATRE & DANCE Irvine Harbour, Irvine, north-ayrshire.gov.uk

A brand new seaside festival with music, arts, theatre and activities for the entire family.

18 & 19 JULY

17 & 18 JULY

EDINBURGH CRAFT BEER FESTIVAL FOOD & DRINK / MUSIC The Biscuit Factory, Edinburgh, edinburghcraftbeerfestival.co.uk

Scotland’s global craft beer gathering returns for 2020 with breweries from around the world, plus street food and excellent live music.

17–19 JULY

DOUNE THE RABBIT HOLE MUSIC Cardross Estate, Port of Menteith, dounetherabbithole. co.uk

See Panel, page 63.

RESONATE TOTAL GAMING FAMILY Venue tbc, Glasgow, resonatetotalgaming.com

A celebration of gaming, software and gadgetry as Resonate goes into its fifth year.

18 JULY–2 AUGUST

CALLANDER & TROSSACHS SUMMERFEST FAMILY / MULTI-ARTS Various venues, Callander, incallander.co.uk/summerfest

Two weeks of summer fun including crafts, workshops, music, film, cycling, family fun days and more at this community-led festival.

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Save the date to experience The World in a Weekend

Beyond Borders International Festival

29-30 August 2020 Traquair House Innerleithen EH44 6PW

Programme launch in June 0131 290 2686 beyondbordersscotland.com

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19–25 JULY

24 & 25 JULY

25 JULY

FAMILY Various venues, Musselburgh, musselburghfestival.org

MUSIC Strathaven, South Lanarkshire, whatsonlanarkshire.co.uk

FAMILY / HERITAGE Forth & Clyde Canal, Glasgow, glasgowcanalfestival.com

MUSSELBURGH FESTIVAL

An annual festival celebrating the history and traditions of the town including family cycles, races and the Common Riding.

22 JULY–9 AUGUST

SHETLAND BOAT WEEK: EXPLORING COASTS AND WATERS HERITAGE Various venues, Shetland, sailtrainingshetland.com

This celebration of Shetland’s maritime heritage features activities both on land and sea, and is suitable for sailors of all experience levels.

24 & 25 JULY

EILEAN DORCHA FESTIVAL MUSIC Liniclate Machair, Benbecula, edf.scot

A family-friendly festival in the Outer Hebrides with a wide range of music.

24 & 25 JULY

LOCH NESS FILM FESTIVAL FILM & TV Various venues, Loch Ness, lochnessfilmfestival.co.uk

An independent, grassroots film festival in a unique and picturesque location.

24 & 25 JULY

MIDSTOCK FESTIVAL MUSIC Dalkeith Country Park, Dalkeith, midstockfestival. com

This family-friendly music festival features an intriguing mix of top club names and quality tribute acts.

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STRATHAVEN FOLK FESTIVAL

This annual folk festival entertains the good people of South Lanarkshire.

GLASGOW CANAL FESTIVAL

Glasgow’s first canal festival promises fun for all the family.

27 JULY–7 AUGUST

24–26 JULY

BUTEFEST MUSIC Various venues, Isle of Bute, butefest.co.uk

A three-day family-friendly music festival which takes place of the wonderfully picturesque Isle of Bute.

THE NORTH RONALDSAY SHEEP FESTIVAL FAMILY North Ronaldsay, Orkney Islands, nrsheepfestival.com

Annual sheep festival to carry out repair work to the North Ronaldsay Sheepdyke.

24–26 JULY

29 & 30 JULY

MUSIC Playing Fields, Fochabers, speyfest.com

FAMILY / MUSIC Coupar Angus Common, Coupar Angus

SPEYFEST

Well-established as one of the best Celtic and Scottish music festivals in the country with a varied programme of seated concerts, ceilidhs and stomps across three days and nights.

24 JULY–2 AUGUST

EDINBURGH FOOD FESTIVAL FOOD & DRINK George Square Gardens, Edinburgh, edfoodfest.com

The Edinburgh Food Festival provides a showcase for some of the best Scottish produce with meet-the-producer events and chef demos.

25 JULY

BALQUHIDDER, LOCHEARNHEAD AND STRATHYRE HIGHLAND GAMES FAMILY Lochearnhead Games Park, Lochearnhead, lochearnheadhighlandgames. co.uk

Traditional Highland games with a gathering of the clans.

GALA ROCKS

Outdoor community festival with live music, a fun fair, food, stalls and more.

30 JULY–1 AUGUST

BELLADRUM TARTAN HEART FESTIVAL FAMILY / MUSIC / THEATRE & DANCE Belladrum, Inverness, tartanheartfestival.co.uk

Family-friendly favourite of the Scottish music scene with theatre, ceilidhs and more.

30 JULY–30 AUGUST

EDINBURGH ART FESTIVAL

ART / FAMILY Various venues, Edinburgh, edinburghartfestival.com

Scotland’s largest annual celebration of visual art.

31 JULY–2 AUGUST

BUTE NOIR

LITERATURE Various venues, Isle of Bute, butenoir.co.uk

Annual crime-writing festival held on the beautiful Isle of Bute.

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31 JULY–2 AUGUST

FOODIES FESTIVAL FAMILY / FOOD & DRINK / MUSIC Inverleith Park, Edinburgh, foodiesfestival.com

Award-winning chefs cook up a storm at a festival which features offerings from local producers and culinary masterclasses.

31 JULY–2 AUGUST

PLAYGROUND FESTIVAL MUSIC Rouken Glen Park, Giffnock, roukenglen.org.uk

This three-day music event returns with Underworld and Nightmares on Wax confirmed.

31 JULY–3 AUGUST

MUGSTOCK FESTIVAL FAMILY / MUSIC / SCIENCE Strathallan Castle, Auchterarder, mugstock.org

Boutique festival organised on a not-for-profit basis, featuring food, art and ‘sciencey stuff.’

31 JULY–3 AUGUST

THE CELTS ARE COMING FAMILY Scottish Crannog Centre, Kenmore, crannog.co.uk

Four-day celebration of prehistoric life.

AUGUST 1 AUGUST

COLOURSFEST MUSIC Braehead Arena, Glasgow, braehead.co.uk

Scotland’s biggest dance festival.

1 & 2 AUGUST

TRUCKFEST FAMILY Royal Highland Centre, Edinburgh, truckfest.co.uk

The UK’s largest truck festival with plenty of entertainment for all the family.

PITTENWEEM ARTS FESTIVAL ART / FAMILY Various venues, Pittenweem, pittenweemartsfestival.co.uk

In this small and friendly village, the harbour's fishing boats, steep wynds and quirky cottages provide a picturesque backdrop as more than 100 artists from all over Britain exhibit their work in houses, garages, halls and shops, and on the pier.

4 & 5 AUGUST

TURING FEST SCIENCE EICC, Edinburgh, turingfest.com

This festival features a series of open-air gigs from top acts.

JULY, DATES TBC

7–9 AUGUST

COMMUNITY / FAMILY / MULTI-ARTS Tramway, Glasgow, tramway.org

FOOD & DRINK Mansfield Traquair, Edinburgh, royalmilewhiskies.com

SUMMER NIGHTS MUSIC Kelvingrove Bandstand and Amphitheatre, Glasgow, glasgowlife.org.uk

SUFI FESTIVAL

A door into the art and culture of Sufism, with music, poetry, theatre, community events and more.

7–16 AUGUST

FRINGE BY THE SEA FAMILY / MULTI-ARTS Various venues, North Berwick, fringebythesea.com

With a spot of sea air and an entertaining line-up of music, comedy, theatre, film, author and children’s events, North Berwick’s multi-arts festival offers something of a respite from the madness of Edinburgh during the month of August.

1–8 AUGUST

Amidst the cornucopia of arts and culture events in Edinburgh during the hectic month of August, the Turing Fest has its focus on innovation, science and technology and can be relied upon for some appearances by big names from within the digital community.

31 JULY–14 AUGUST

celebration of the water of life, it features around 30 exhibitor stands and over 200 whiskies to sample each day.

WHISKY FRINGE

Held in the magnificent Mansfield Traquair, this is the muchanticipated annual event from Royal Mile Whiskies. An exciting

7–29 AUGUST

THE ROYAL EDINBURGH MILITARY TATTOO HERITAGE / MUSIC Edinburgh Castle, Edinburgh, edintattoo.co.uk

This unique event draws crowds and performers from all over the world, with massed pipes and drums, military bands, display teams, dancers and the haunting lament of the Lone Piper set against the magnificent backcloth of Edinburgh Castle. The 2020 show marks the Tattoo’s 70th anniversary.

7–31 AUGUST

EDINBURGH FESTIVAL FRINGE FAMILY / MULTI-ARTS Various venues, Edinburgh, edfringe.com

Each year, thousands of performers take to a multitude of stages (both large and small) all over the capital to present shows for each and every possible cultural taste. From big names to unknown artists looking to build their careers, the festival caters for everyone and includes theatre, comedy, dance, physical theatre, musicals, operas, children’s shows, music and cabaret.

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7–31 AUGUST

EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL FAMILY / MUSIC / THEATRE & DANCE Various venues, Edinburgh, eif.co.uk

Bringing world-class arts to the capital since 1947, the Edinburgh International Festival sets the gold standard for classical concerts, opera, dance and theatre, while in recent years, it’s also added an excellent contemporary music strand with everyone from Godspeed You! Black Emperor to Mogwai and Neneh Cherry to Jarvis Cocker having appeared.

7–31 AUGUST

JUST FESTIVAL ART / POLITICS St John’s Episcopal Church, Edinburgh, just-festival.org

SCREENPLAY Shetland’s annual film festival has been entertaining cineastes since 2007 and is curated by Jenny Leask (film programme manager for Shetland Arts), Linda Ruth Williams (author, film juror and professor of film at Exeter University) and Mark Kermode (author, critic and – alongside Simon Mayo – co-host of the BBC’s flagship film programme every week on Radio 5 Live).

Situated in the beautiful town of Lerwick, Screenplay is the most northerly film festival in the UK, and its close proximity to Scandinavia means it shows plenty of films from Denmark, Norway and Sweden. Last year the organisers added a new focus on the southern hemisphere with features from Australia and New Zealand. It also included a special strand of films made by women and, impressively, more than half of all the films screened were directed or co-directed by women. Also new last year was the Screenplay Audience Award, which encouraged a deeper engagement with the festival’s filmgoers.

Regular events include Home Made which is a chance for Shetlanders of all ages and abilities to showcase their own short films; hands-on filmmaking workshops; and the much-anticipated Screenplay Film Quiz, hosted by Kermode and Williams.

Screenplay is very much a family-friendly film festival, and its manifesto is to entertain, inspire and inform. (Murray Robertson) ■■ Various venues, Lerwick, August–September, shetlandarts.org/ourwork/festivals/screenplay 70

Just Festival offers a programme to help people explore their spirituality by engaging with others and promoting peace with live music, talks, dance shows and exhibitions.

8 AUGUST

CITY OF ELGIN FOOD & DRINK FESTIVAL FAMILY / FOOD & DRINK Various venues, Elgin, elginbid.co.uk

Over 80 exhibitors descend on Elgin for this day of food and drink festivities, with live cookery demonstrations, children’s entertainment and hands-on activities. There are also tastings and live music to enjoy.

8 & 9 AUGUST

PARTY AT THE PALACE MUSIC Lochside Field, Linlithgow, partyatthepalace.co.uk

A selection of music royalty performs against the regal backdrop of Linlithgow Palace over two days of live music at this family-friendly fest.

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2020 THE GUIDE TO SCOTLAND’S FESTIVALS

8–16 AUGUST

14 & 15 AUGUST

FAMILY / OUTDOOR Various venues, Midlothian, midlothian.gov.uk

FAMILY / MUSIC Glasgow Green, Glasgow, theworlds.co.uk

MIDLOTHIAN OUTDOOR FESTIVAL

Previously known as the Midlothian Walking Festival, this popular event has now grown into an even larger and broader celebration of activities from across the outdoor world. A range of goings-on take place over the nine days of this festival, including guided walks, talks, wildlife watching, downhill snow sports, and cycling through the area’s villages, towns and countryside.

8–16 AUGUST

PIPING LIVE! GLASGOW INTERNATIONAL PIPING FESTIVAL FAMILY / MUSIC Various venues, Glasgow, pipinglive.co.uk

A week-long celebration of piping, including contemporary and traditional, solo and pipe bands. The World Pipe Band Championships take place on the second to last day at Glasgow Green, with a number of free family displays happening in George Square.

13–24 AUGUST

MARYMASS FESTIVAL FAMILY / HERITAGE Various venues, Irvine, marymassfestival.com

This event features some traditional and contemporary happenings including the Crowning of the Marymass Queen and the ever-popular Marymass Folk Festival. This historic event dates all the way back to the 17th century and warmly celebrates history, tradition, community and heritage. For the 2020 festival, the opening ceremony will be held on 13 August, with the main celebration day taking place on 22 August.

WORLD PIPE BAND CHAMPIONSHIPS

The best pipe bands from all over the world, featuring 8000 pipers and drummers, compete for the most prestigious prizes and the coveted World Champion crown. As well as music, there’s a children’s zone, gourmet food and Highland games.

15 AUGUST

FALKIRK WHISKY SOCIAL FOOD & DRINK Dobbie Hall, Larbert, harbroevents.co.uk

Meet brand ambassadors, take part in masterclasses and sample drams from some of the best distilleries in Scotland and around the world. Over 150 bottles of whisky will be up for sale.

15–31 AUGUST

EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL BOOK FESTIVAL FAMILY / LITERATURE Charlotte Square Gardens, Edinburgh, edbookfest.co.uk

The world’s largest public celebration of the written word takes place in the first UNESCO City of Literature in the beautiful Charlotte Square Gardens. As well as leading Scottish and international authors, the varied programme always manages to cover poets, politicians, historians, journalists and children’s authors.

17–23 AUGUST

KIRKINTILLOCH CANAL FESTIVAL FAMILY / HERITAGE / OUTDOOR Smiths Hotel, Kirkintilloch, kirkintillochcanalfestival.org

A week of fun at Scotland’s canal capital, with boat trips, arts and

crafts and a range of live bands.

As if that wasn’t enough, there’s also a story week, a ‘get active’ day with the chance to have a go at everything from canoeing to urban foraging, and a gala Sunday.

19–23 AUGUST

MULL OF KINTYRE MUSIC FESTIVAL FAMILY / HERITAGE / MUSIC Various venues, Campbeltown, mokfest.com

This traditional and contemporary Scottish and Irish music festival is based on the west coast.

The event offers a selection of traditional music and mixed genres concerts, music sessions, festival club, family entertainment, tuition workshops, live music in bars and clubs, and heritage walks.

21 & 22 AUGUST

STRANRAER RNLI PARK FEST COMMUNITY / FAMILY / MUSIC Agnew Park, Stranraer, lifeboatparkfest.co.uk

Stranraer Inshore Lifeboats adopt their land legs for a fundraising music festival featuring a range of local bands and familiar artists as well as craft stalls, fun fair rides and The Marine Lake with its popular pirate ship. Previous headliners for the event have included S Club, Dodgy and Toploader.

21–23 AUGUST

INNERLEITHEN MUSIC FESTIVAL MUSIC Various venues, Innerleithen, innerleithenmusicfestival.org

In Innerleithen, this established and popular Celtic music festival annually augments its line-up of local musicians, sessions, traditional singing, street events and workshops with a good number of international performers.

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PHOTO: SUZANNE HEFFRON

27–30 AUGUST

STEÒRNABHAGH AIR A’ CHUAN / STORNOWAY ON THE OCEAN FOOD & DRINK / MUSIC Stornoway, Isle of Lewis, cne-siar.gov.uk

Celebrate the opening of the new Newton Marina with an exciting festival featuring music, art and food.

28–30 AUGUST

BELL ROCK MUSIC FESTIVAL Edinburgh International Book Festival

MUSIC Various venues, Arbroath, bellrockblues.com

Jazz and blues music from some of the finest local and visiting musicians.

A traditional beer festival with live folk music at weekends, food from the Inn’s kitchen and a chance to sample over 100 Scottish real ales.

to offer inspiration, networking opportunities, learning and fun.

Run by and for the television industry, it’s attended by over 2000 delegates and has featured hundreds of globally renowned speakers, including Ricky Gervais, Joanna Lumley, Professor Brian Cox, Mark Thompson, Michaela Coel, Michael Palin and Jeremy Paxman.

22 & 23 AUGUST

27–29 AUGUST

28–30 AUGUST

FAMILY Drumlanrig Castle and Country Estate, Thornhill, gallowaycountryfair.co.uk

FAMILY / OUTDOOR Dunoon, Argyll, cowalgathering. com

FAMILY Strathaven Park, Strathaven, strathavenballoonfestival.co.uk

21 AUGUST–6 SEPTEMBER

THE TROSSACHS BEER FESTIVAL

FOOD & DRINK The Lade Inn, Callander, scottishrealales.com

GALLOWAY COUNTRY FAIR

COWAL HIGHLAND GATHERING

A weekend of country pursuits and family events with stalls selling local food, drink, and crafts, and various activities from clay pigeon shooting and archery to cookery demonstrations and a sheep show.

Highland games renowned for its unique atmosphere and world-class competitors. With a mix of Highland dancing, pipe bands, traditional wrestling, heavy athletics and children’s entertainment, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

26–28 AUGUST

27–30 AUGUST

EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL TELEVISION FESTIVAL FILM & TV EICC, Edinburgh, thetvfestival.com

An essential fixture for everyone in the television industry is back 72

ISLAY BOOK FESTIVAL FAMILY / LITERATURE Various venues, Islay, islaybookfestival.co.uk

An intimate and friendly festival on the popular whisky isle that caters to Scotland’s love of crime thrillers.

28–30 AUGUST

CAIRNGORMS YOGA FESTIVAL FAMILY Boat of Garten New Community Hall, Boat of Garten, boatofgarten.com/community

Various yoga classes, guided walks and more.

STRATHAVEN BALLOON FESTIVAL

An international hot air ballooning extravaganza, combining the stunning sight of balloons launching and flying.

29 & 30 AUGUST

BEYOND BORDERS INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL MULTI-ARTS / POLITICS Traquair House, Innerleithen, beyondbordersscotland.com

This event features talks by authors, politicians, journalists and diplomats about pressing global issues. It also boasts a strong arts and music programme.

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Garnock Valley Carves

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Sponsored By Up to

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Manse Field (TBC) | Beith North Ayrshire £10 (Family 4) | £5 (Adult) | £2 (Under 16) | Free (Under 5)

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MAIN SPONSOR

20

Aviemore, Scotland

SCOTLAND’S INTERNATIONAL CRIME WRITING FESTIVAL STIRLING, 18–20 SEPTEMBER 2020 BLOODYSCOTLAND.COM 73

THE GUIDE TO SCOTLAND’S FESTIVALS 2020

29 & 30 AUGUST

SEPTEMBER

RATTRAY ARTS FESTIVAL

1–6 SEPTEMBER

ART / FAMILY Rattray Community Hall, Blairgowrie, rattrayartfestival. co.uk

MULTI-ARTS Various venues, Dunfermline, outwithfestival.co.uk

Artists in a variety of media have contributed to this arts festival with proceeds going to Scottish Charity Air Ambulance.

OUTWITH FESTIVAL

This Dunfermline-based festival celebrates comedy, music, literature, theatre and visual art in and around the city.

29–31 AUGUST

1–30 SEPTEMBER

ART / MUSIC Jupiter Artland, Wilkieston, jupiterrising.art

FILM & TV Various venues, Scotland, scalarama.com

JUPITER RISING

Taking place in the iconic sculpture park, Jupiter Rising breathes life into the festival format with avant-garde music, art, film and performance.

SCALARAMA

A month-long film festival with pop-up screenings taking place across the length and breadth of Scotland.

3–9 SEPTEMBER

29 AUGUST–6 SEPTEMBER

LARGS VIKING FESTIVAL

FAMILY / HERITAGE / OUTDOOR Various venues, Largs largsvikingfestival.org

On the anniversary of the Battle of Largs meet King Alexander of Scotland and King Haakon of Norway with living history installations in a 13th century living history village.

29 AUGUST–13 SEPTEMBER

MCLELLAN ARTS FESTIVAL

FAMILY / MULTI-ARTS Various venues, Arran arrantheatreandarts.co.uk/ mclellan-festival

A fortnight-long celebration of emerging Scottish writing talent, this event is inspired by the late, great playwright Robert McLellan.

AUGUST–SEPTEMBER

SCREENPLAY

FILM & TV Various venues, Lerwick, shetlandarts.org/our-work/ festivals/screenplay

See Panel, page 70.

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ORKNEY INTERNATIONAL SCIENCE FESTIVAL FAMILY / SCIENCE Various venues, Orkney, oisf.org

A truly kaleidoscopic mix of sparkling ideas and lively activities features talks and outings, and food and music in an island setting where past and future meet.

4–6 SEPTEMBER

TMSA KIRRIEMUIR FESTIVAL OF MUSIC AND SONG FAMILY / MUSIC Various venues, Kirriemuir, kirriefestival.org

The Traditional Music & Song Association of Scotland’s annual celebration of music in all its forms features competitions and events around the cosy town which is arguably most famous for producing James Matthew Barrie (legendary author of Peter Pan). Past years have included a number of talent from the BBC Young Traditional Musician of the Year tournament and other pedigree samples of Scottish musicality.

4–6 SEPTEMBER

DUNDEE FLOWER & FOOD FESTIVAL FAMILY / FOOD & DRINK / MUSIC Camperdown Country Park, Dundee, dundeeflowerandfoodfestival. com

A delicious staple in the Dundee calendar, with food and drink tastings, chef demonstrations, live music and competitions.

4–6 SEPTEMBER

KELSO FOLK FESTIVAL MUSIC Various venues, Kelso, kelsofolkfest.org

A weekend of traditional music concerts, sessions, workshops and open mics, run by Kelso Folk and Live Music Club.

5 SEPTEMBER

BRAEMAR GATHERING FAMILY Princess Royal & Duke of Fife Memorial Park, Braemar, braemargathering.org

Traditional Highland games with piping, Highland dancing and strong events including tossing the caber, throwing the hammer and putting the stone. There are also running races and a tug of war.

5 SEPTEMBER

HUNTLY HAIRST FOOD AND FARMING FESTIVAL FAMILY / FOOD & DRINK Various venues, Huntly, huntlyhairst.co.uk

A community festival featuring a wide variety of things to see and do which are all connected to the culture and life of Huntly’s farming community. Local musicians provide the backdrop to a series of literature and foodie events.

Among competitions for cooking and baking, the hotly contested World Stovies Championships seeks to crown a new victor.

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PHOTO: RYAN BUCHANAN

5 & 6 SEPTEMBER

8–13 SEPTEMBER

FOOD & DRINK Isle Martin, Ullapool, islemartin.org

FAMILY / MULTI-ARTS Various venues, Nairn, nairnfestival.co.uk A range of musical, literary and artistic events with a fringe drawing on the talents of the local creative community.

ISLE MARTIN SEAWEED FESTIVAL

Celebrate the rich seaweed life to be found along the shoreline of Isle Martin.

NAIRN BOOK AND ARTS FESTIVAL

5 & 6 SEPTEMBER

SPOTLIGHT ON . . .

SKYE LIVE A true hidden gem of the music festival scene, Skye Live arrives into its sixth year as one of Scotland’s most interesting boutique events. Set on the idyllic Skye, the festival brings together a distinctive mix of genres from electronic and contemporary to folk and traditional.

Last year’s fifth anniversary event featured the likes of Niteworks, Lau and Peatbog Faeries, while The Waterboys headlined a new opening night concert. Erol Alkan, Optimo (Espacio) and Leon Vynehall also made appearances alongside Auntie Flo, whose set closed with the DJ and producer finding out he’d won the Scottish Album of the Year award. Popular with visitors and locals alike, this small but mighty festival consistently boasts a well-curated line-up.

The stunning views and excellent food and drink add an extra level to the festival experience.

(Arusa Qureshi) ■ The Lump, Portree, September, skyelive.co.uk

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LOCH LOMOND FOOD & DRINK FESTIVAL

11 & 12 SEPTEMBER

FAMILY / FOOD & DRINK Loch Lomond Shores, Balloch, lochlomondfood anddrinkfestival.co.uk

MUSIC Resolis Memorial Hall, Dingwall, bootstock.org

Enjoy a weekend of fine food and drink at one of the most celebrated food festivals in the UK.

BOOTSTOCK

Annual music festival to help fund educational opportunities for disadvantaged children in the poorest and most remote regions of Nepal.

5–12 SEPTEMBER

SCOTTISH BORDERS WALKING FESTIVAL HERITAGE / OUTDOOR Various venues, Jedburgh, borderswalking.com

The Scottish Borders has some of the most breathtaking scenery in the UK. And the Scottish Borders Walking Festival, the oldest established event of its kind in Scotland, has a reputation for being one of the friendliest walking festivals of the year.

5–13 SEPTEMBER

ART WALK PORTY ARTS FESTIVAL ART Portobello Beach, Edinburgh, artwalkporty.co.uk

This annual arts festival celebrates the artists of a vibrant and picturesque area.

5–20 SEPTEMBER

SCOTTISH FOOD & DRINK FORTNIGHT FAMILY / FOOD & DRINK Various venues, Scotland, fooddrinkfort.scot

Annual celebration of Scotland’s unique larder with demonstrations, markets and tastings.

11–13 SEPTEMBER

STRANRAER OYSTER FESTIVAL FAMILY / FOOD & DRINK Stranraer Harbour, Stranraer, stranraeroysterfestival.com

Celebrate the seafood heritage of Stranraer at Scotland’s very first oyster festival, which features tastings and competitions, cooking demonstrations and classes, wild food forages, a skiff regatta, live music and a traders’ market. The festival launches with an oyster landing ceremony, complete with oysters being piped ashore.

11–21 SEPTEMBER

LAMMERMUIR FESTIVAL MUSIC Various venues, East Lothian, lammermuirfestival.co.uk

The highly prestigious Lammermuir Festival presents great music in the picturesque surroundings of East Lothian, employing unusual locations (everywhere from remote churches to the National Museum of Flight) to provide a backdrop for top-class chamber music performances.

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12 SEPTEMBER

GARNOCK VALLEY CARVES ART / FAMILY / HERITAGE Manse Field, Beith, garnockvalleycarves.co.uk

Chainsaw carving event, featuring international carvers who will transform logs into delightful works of art.

12 & 13 SEPTEMBER

ST MONANS COMMUNITY ARTS FESTIVAL MULTI-ARTS Various venues, Anstruther, stmonans.org.uk

History walks and a camera museum rank as just two of the most popular events among an entertaining programme of concerts, workshops, visual art displays and literary events.

12 & 13 SEPTEMBER

PERTH FESTIVAL OF YARN

12–20 SEPTEMBER

NEOS: NORTH EAST OPEN STUDIOS ART Various venues, Aberdeenshire, northeastopenstudios.co.uk

Gain insight into the creative process and see some brand new artworks in a series of studio open days all across the north-east of Scotland, featuring hundreds of different artists.

16–27 SEPTEMBER

TAKE ONE ACTION FILM FESTIVAL FILM & TV / POLITICS Various venues, Glasgow, takeoneaction.org.uk

A film festival with a political slant, founded on the belief that ‘cinematic experiences can inspire lasting change’ and offering a series of talks and programmes.

17–20 SEPTEMBER

CEÒL CHOLASA MUSIC Various venues, Colonsay, ceolcholasa.co.uk

15–19 SEPTEMBER

Folk fest on the island of Colonsay with some great acts appearing.

LITERATURE Elgin Library, Moray, moray.gov.uk

18–20 SEPTEMBER

SPIRIT OF MORAY BOOK FESTIVAL

A celebration of writing, illustration and publishing in Scotland at this local festival which attracts renowned Scottish authors (and kicks off with a whisky event).

AVIEMORE’S BIG MIX FESTIVAL ART / FOOD & DRINK / MUSIC Various venues, Aviemore, aviemorebigmixfestival.co.uk

Three-day festival celebrating food, drink, music, art, crafts and other activities.

PHOTO: PAUL REICH

ART / FAMILY Dewars Centre, Perth, perthfestivalofyarn.uk

Roman roots. Big Roman Week features walks, talks and family events.

The festival brings together independent dyers, farmers, small-holders, knitters, spinners, felters and weavers for a weekend. You can also take part in a class with tutors across a range of textile disciplines.

12–19 SEPTEMBER

NORTHERN LIGHTS FESTIVAL ART Various venues, Wick, lytharts.org.uk

An exciting outdoor light and arts festival running for a whole week.

12–20 SEPTEMBER

BIG ROMAN WEEK FAMILY Various venues, Falkirk, bigromanweek.org.uk

A nine-day festival encouraging visitors to find out more about the Antonine Wall and our

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18–20 SEPTEMBER

BLOODY SCOTLAND LITERATURE Various venues, Stirling, bloodyscotland.com

An innovative festival drawing on Scotland’s love of macabre literature and celebrating crime writing by bringing together leading Scottish and international writers, showcasing debut voices and encouraging new writers. As well as interviews and panels there is a torchlight procession, criminal cabaret, a crime writer’s football match, a quiz and much more.

24–26 SEPTEMBER

25–27 SEPTEMBER

MUSIC / THEATRE & DANCE Glasgow Cathedral, Glasgow, gcfestival.com

FOOD & DRINK Various venues, Orkney orkneyfoodanddrink.com

GLASGOW CATHEDRAL FESTIVAL

A week-long celebration of music, art and history.

24–27 SEPTEMBER

TRUE NORTH

MUSIC Various venues, Aberdeen, aberdeenperformingarts.com

HERITAGE / MUSIC River Clyde, Glasgow, clydebuiltfestival.com

The Clydebuilt Festival returns in 2020 for its fourth year, and it’s bigger than ever. Watch on as rowers participate in Scotland’s biggest open water rowing race.

23 & 24 SEPTEMBER

THE SCOTTISH LEARNING FESTIVAL SCIENCE SEC, Glasgow, slfexhibition. com

SLF is the largest education conference and exhibition in Scotland. The event has something to offer everyone involved in education and includes a conference programme and exhibition.

MULTI-ARTS Town Hall, Forres, findhornbayarts.com

A spectacular six-day celebration of arts and culture taking place at the heart of Moray and showcasing artists of national and international renown.

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25–27 SEPTEMBER

TIDELINES BOOK FESTIVAL

25–27 SEPTEMBER

West coast-based book festival with a great little line-up of events for kids and adults alike.

ISLE OF JURA MUSIC FESTIVAL MUSIC Various venues, Isle of Jura, juramusicfestival.com

Island festival of Scottish traditional music which encourages local talent with concerts, workshops and sessions, and completes the bill with established acts to give them something to aspire to.

25–27 SEPTEMBER

MONIAIVE MICHAELMAS BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL MUSIC Glencairn Memorial Institute, Moniaive, moniaivebluegrass. co.uk

Bluegrass, old time and Americana music in Moniaive, the beautiful music village of southwest Scotland.

23–28 SEPTEMBER

FINDHORN BAY FESTIVAL

Brand new festival celebrating Orkney as a food and drink destination. Expect to see a high-profile celebrity chef, and enjoy a range of activities over the weekend.

Billing itself as ‘Aberdeen’s festival of music and song’, this weekend of performances features some of the cream of UK songwriting.

19 & 20 SEPTEMBER

CLYDEBUILT FESTIVAL

TASTE OF ORKNEY FOOD FESTIVAL

25–27 SEPTEMBER

ORKNEY BLUES FESTIVAL MUSIC Various venues, Stromness, orkneyblues.co.uk

Characterised as the ‘smallest, friendliest Blues Festival in the UK’, this is a place to hear good tunes and meet others who share a passion for the blues.

FAMILY / LITERATURE Irvine Harbour, Irvine, tidelinesbookfest.com

25 SEPTEMBER–4 OCTOBER

WIGTOWN BOOK FESTIVAL

FAMILY / LITERATURE Various venues, Wigtown, wigtownbookfestival.com

An established and celebrated feature in the Scottish literary calendar attracting many big names. For ten days Scotland’s National Book Town buzzes with book events as well as theatre, music and site-specific happenings in quirky venues.

A dedicated Children’s Garden hosts events for the younger readers.

26 SEPTEMBER–2 OCTOBER

SHETLAND WOOL WEEK

FAMILY Various venues, Shetland, shetlandwoolweek.com

Shetland’s textile industry celebrates the sheep that catapulted it to world-wide fame.

Masterclasses, workshops and events are led by professionals from within the textile and design industry, accompanied by a makers' market and some exhibitions.

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Our events are putting Paisley back on the map!

In 2020, don’t miss out on the finest food and drink, marching weavers, pipers, performers, books, bands and one of the biggest and best free Halloween festivals in the UK.

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26 SEPTEMBER–4 OCTOBER

PENFEST

FAMILY / MULTI-ARTS Various venues, Penicuik, penicuikarts.org

A community arts festival, with poetry, music and art at the forefront.

OCTOBER 1–3 OCTOBER

AYRSHIRE REAL ALE FESTIVAL FOOD & DRINK / MUSIC Troon Concert Hall, South Troon, ayrshirebeerfestival.co.uk

See Spotlight, page 81.

26 SEPTEMBER–17 OCTOBER

THE EDINBURGH WORLD JUSTICE FESTIVAL

1–3 OCTOBER

POLITICS City Centre, Edinburgh, ewjf.org.uk

LITERATURE Various venues, Inverness and Fort William, nessbookfest. wordpress.com

A festival aiming to raise the profile of international justice and development issues with a series of talks and events.

NESS BOOK FEST

Inverness and Fort William-based book festival that features emerging voices as well as big names in a free programme of events.

SEPTEMBER, DATES TBC

HEBRIDES INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL FILM & TV Various venues, Outer Hebrides, hebfilmfestival.org/hebridesinternational-film-festival

1–4 OCTOBER

BEARSCOTFEST HERITAGE / MUSIC Various venues, Edinburgh, bearscots.org.uk

This far-flung film festival features pop-up cinemas, masterclasses and more.

Those cuddly fellas at the Bear Scots once again welcome ‘bears, cubs, chasers, otters and admirers’ for a weekend of furry fun at the largest UK bear event.

SEPTEMBER, DATES TBC

1–4 OCTOBER

MUSIC Various venues, Islay, islayjazzfestival.co.uk

MUSIC Various venues, Cumnock, thecumnocktryst.com

ISLAY JAZZ FESTIVAL

Annual jazz festival held on the stunning isle of Islay.

SEPTEMBER, DATES TBC

SEA CHANGE FILM FESTIVAL FILM & TV Various venues, Isle of Tiree, screenargyll.co.uk/sea-changethe-festival

Film festival celebrating women in film.

SEPTEMBER, DATES TBC

SKYE LIVE

MUSIC The Lump, Portree, skyelive.co.uk

See Spotlight, page 76.

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THE CUMNOCK TRYST

The Cumnock Tryst is a music festival launched in 2013 by eminent composer and local boy James MacMillan, with Nicola Benedetti as patron. Brass and choral music are two especially strong traditions in Cumnock.

1 OCTOBER–1 NOVEMBER

THE ENCHANTED FOREST

ART / FAMILY / HERITAGE Enchanted Forest, Pitlochry, enchantedforest.org.uk

A stunning sound and light show that transforms Faskally Wood using dazzling visuals and innovative design set against an original music score.

1 OCTOBER–20 NOVEMBER

THE CLIMATE FRINGE FAMILY / POLITICS Various venues, Scotland, climatefringe.org

The eyes of the world will be on Glasgow to address the climate emergency. A series of events, workshops and talks focused on the issue of climate change.

2–4 OCTOBER

CALLANDER JAZZ AND BLUES FESTIVAL MUSIC Various venues, Callander, callanderjazz.com

The Callander Jazz and Blues Festival is the largest rural event of its type in Scotland and is firmly established on the UK’s festival map.

2–4 OCTOBER

PORTOBELLO BOOK FESTIVAL LITERATURE Portobello Library, Edinburgh, portobellobookfestival.co.uk

A chirpy wee seaside literature festival, run by dedicated volunteers and based at Portobello Library.

1–11 OCTOBER

ABERDEEN INTERNATIONAL COMEDY FESTIVAL

2–4 OCTOBER

COMEDY Various venues, Aberdeen, aberdeencomedyfestival.com

MUSIC The Macphail Centre, Ullapool, ullapoolguitarfestival.com

The Aberdeen Comedy Festival features over 250 comedians performing at venues across town.

ULLAPOOL GUITAR FESTIVAL

A combination of workshops, concerts, late-night sessions and a trade fair featuring several top manufacturers of bespoke guitars.

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Artists booked so far for 2020 include Remi Harris Duo, Richard Smith, and Innes Watson and the Guitar Colloquium.

woffglasgow.com This international festival features more than 40 films by independent directors from all over the world.

3–10 OCTOBER

HADDO ARTS FESTIVAL MULTI-ARTS Haddo House, Ellon, haddoarts.com

A festival of music, theatre, visual arts and workshops in the beautiful surroundings of Haddo House, a magnificent 18th century stately home with a Victorian interior.

4 OCTOBER

BAXTERS LOCH NESS MARATHON AND FESTIVAL OF RUNNING FAMILY / OUTDOOR Bught Park, Inverness lochnessmarathon.com

A family-friendly day based around all things running, with a choice of lengths for the fitness minded.

5 OCTOBER

THE WEE G&T FESTIVAL FOOD & DRINK Dewars Centre, Perth, thescottishginsociety.com

Annual celebration of all things juniper from Provender Brown Deli, with lots of gins to sample, industry experts to chat with and gin-related cookery demo and masterclasses.

8–11 OCTOBER

KIRKCUDBRIGHT FESTIVAL OF LIGHT FAMILY Various venues, Kirkcudbright, kirkcudbrightlight.com

Arts festival which coincides with the opening of Kirkcudbright Galleries.

8–11 OCTOBER

WOFF: WORLD OF FILM INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL GLASGOW FILM & TV / THEATRE & DANCE Film City Glasgow, Glasgow,

8–12 OCTOBER

SHETLAND ACCORDION AND FIDDLE FESTIVAL HERITAGE / MUSIC Various venues, Shetland, shetlandaccordionandfiddle. com

Visiting and local acts join together in a Shetland kneesup to warm up the October evenings with fine trad music.

8–17 OCTOBER

THE SPREE COMEDY / FAMILY / MUSIC Various venues, Paisley, thespree.co.uk

The Spree is Paisley’s music and arts festival, featuring a range of international and Scottish artists alongside homegrown talent as well as a vibrant programme for kids.

9–11 OCTOBER

SCOTLAND’S BOAT SHOW: RIVER OF LIGHT HERITAGE Kip Marina, Inverkip, scotlandsboatshow.co.uk

Evening event wherein illuminated boats will light up the River Clyde, as part of Scotland’s Year of Coasts and Waters. There will also be plenty of entertainment on shore, with food and drink, torchlight processions and other surprises.

9–17 OCTOBER

ROYAL NATIONAL MÒD MULTI-ARTS Various venues, Inverness, ancomunn.co.uk

The Royal National Mòd is Scotland’s premier Gaelic festival, famous for celebrating our Gaelic linguistic and cultural heritage.

SPOTLIGHT ON . . .

AYRSHIRE REAL ALE FESTIVAL For three days annually, the beautiful Troon Concert Hall transforms into a lively beer hall for the Ayrshire Real Ale Festival. Featuring more than 150 beers, the small town south of Glasgow welcomes every ale enthusiast with a wide selection of unique Scottish brews and delicious traditional food such as steak and haggis pies, sausage rolls and stovies.

Last year the organisers expanded the festival’s selection to include ciders and wines in the adjacent Walker Hall. Visitors can explore the arsenal of flavours until 11pm. The experience is accompanied by live entertainment: in 2019 ticket holders were treated to pipe, blues and rock‘n’roll. Although the final details are yet to be announced, little is likely to change, guaranteeing another prestigious ale festival to add to the region’s rich and diverse line-up. (Julia Kajdi) ■ Troon Concert Hall, South Troon, 1–3 October, ayrshirebeerfestival.co.uk

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9–18 OCTOBER

14–18 OCTOBER

MULTI-ARTS Venue tbc, Edinburgh, hiddendoorblog.org

FAMILY / MUSIC / SCIENCE Various venues, Dundee, dundee.ac.uk/festival-future

HIDDEN DOOR FESTIVAL

Volunteer-run arts organisation Hidden Door returns for more innovative arts in the capital.

FESTIVAL OF THE FUTURE

Exciting festival bringing together the worlds of science and culture for the entire family.

10 & 11 OCTOBER

14–18 OCTOBER

FAMILY / MULTI-ARTS / OUTDOOR Urquhart Castle, Inverness historicenvironment.scot

FILM & TV / POLITICS Various venues, Glasgow, sqiff.org

AISEAG

Festival exploring and celebrating Gaelic culture, heritage and tradition, and its association with coasts and waters, with a highlight event on the Sunday evening.

SCOTTISH QUEER INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL The Scottish Queer International Film Festival is a celebration of queer cinema, hosting features, short film screenings, workshops, discussions and nights out.

10–16 OCTOBER

15–17 OCTOBER

OUTDOOR Various venues, Isle of Tiree, tireewaveclassic.co.uk

MUSIC The Stove, Dumfries, dumfriesmusic.co.uk

BWA TIREE WAVE CLASSIC

A highlight on the UK windsurfing calendar, this week-long event guarantees plenty of adrenalinefuelled action as some of the world’s top competitors compete in freestyle, wave jumping and supercross disciplines. A whole host of daytime and evening activities surround the competition.

DUMFRIES MUSIC CONFERENCE

A varied programme about music.

15–18 OCTOBER

DANCELIVE FAMILY / MUSIC / THEATRE & DANCE Various venues, Aberdeen, dancelivefestival.co.uk

Annual festival celebrating –

and exclusively devoted to – contemporary dance. The programme draws high-quality companies to the North East of Scotland, emphasising new choreography and opportunities for participation.

15–18 OCTOBER

ST ANDREWS VOICES FAMILY / MUSIC Various venues, St Andrews, standrewsvoices.com

It’s all about the voice, in this eclectic festival of music drawn from opera, Lieder, folk, jazz, early music and contemporary genres.

16 & 17 OCTOBER

ALLAN RAMSAY FESTIVAL LITERATURE / MUSIC The Allan Ramsay Hotel, Carlops, allanramsayhotel.com

Festival celebrating the life and work of the Scots poet, Allan Ramsay.

16–31 OCTOBER

SCOTTISH INTERNATIONAL STORYTELLING FESTIVAL FAMILY / HERITAGE / LITERATURE Scottish Storytelling Centre, Edinburgh, sisf.org.uk

A celebration of live storytelling and imagination uniting Scottish as well as international storytellers and musicians. The 2020 edition will focus on tales that explore Scotland’s place as a coastal nation and the many voyages that have shaped its cultural identity today, as part of Scotland’s Year of Coasts and Waters.

17 OCTOBER–1 NOVEMBER

DISCOVERY FILM FESTIVAL

Haddo Arts Festival 82

FAMILY / FILM & TV Dundee Contemporary Arts, Dundee, discoveryfilmfestival. org.uk

Scotland’s international film festival LIST.CO.UK/FESTIVALS

2020 THE GUIDE TO SCOTLAND’S FESTIVALS

Reinhardt, Stéphane Grappelli and the Quintet of the Hot Club of France.

PHOTO: PINK SALTIRE

for young audiences combines the best youth cinema from around the world with a series of creative workshops and events.

23–25 OCTOBER 21–25 OCTOBER

BRAEMAR CREATIVE ARTS FESTIVAL MULTI-ARTS Various venues, Braemar, braemarcreativearts.co.uk

Arts festival featuring a plethora of workshops and classes in music, dance, drama, visual arts, crafts and cooking.

LEITH COMEDY FESTIVAL COMEDY Various venues, Leith, Edinburgh, leithcomedyfest.com

This brand new comedy festival takes place in Leith which declares itself to be ‘unofficially’ twinned with Rio with organisers aiming to capitalise on the area's ‘lust for life’.

SPOTLIGHT ON . . .

23–25 OCTOBER

PRIDE SCOTLAND

FAMILY Inverness Leisure, Inverness, lochnessknitfest.com

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the first Pride event in Scotland, when 3000 people walked from Edinburgh’s Broughton Street to the Meadows in commemoration of the 1969 Stonewall riots in New York.

In 2019, the number of events promoting LGBT rights around the country had grown to 21, with 70,000 people taking part in the main metropolises of Edinburgh and Glasgow, as well as Dundee, Perth, Kirkcaldy and Oban.

The Pink Saltire organisation (which chairs the Scottish Pride Organisers Network and provides advice and support to event volunteers) will usher in a number of new locations for 2020. These include Paisley, Orkney and the Scottish Borders while a Winter Pride Festival is also on the roster. Keep an eye out on further announcements as most dates and locations for events are still to be confirmed. (David Pollock) ■ Various venues and dates, Scotland, pinksaltire.com/pride

22–25 OCTOBER

ORKNEY STORYTELLING FESTIVAL LITERATURE Various venues, Orkney, orkneystorytellingfestival.co.uk

A four-day programme of walks, talks, story sessions and workshops with renowned storytellers from Scotland and beyond.

LOCH NESS KNIT FEST

This knitting festival takes place deep in the heart of the Scottish Highlands, and features a series of workshops, talks, presentations, fashion shows, marketplace, local musicians and much, much more.

22 OCTOBER–1 NOVEMBER

EDINBURGH HORROR FESTIVAL

MULTI-ARTS Various venues, Edinburgh, edhorrorfest.co.uk

The Edinburgh Horror Festival darkens ours doors just in time for spooky old Halloween, featuring theatre, magic, comedy, movies and more. Dozens of events are here for you including lectures, walking tours, Gothic readings and interactive horror shows. Get ready to be frightened!

23–25 OCTOBER

BUTE MANOUCHE: SCOTLAND’S GYPSY JAZZ FESTIVAL MUSIC Various venues, Isle of Bute, butejazz.com

Scotland’s Gypsy Jazz Festival returns for its second year, celebrating the music of Django

23 OCTOBER–1 NOVEMBER

AFRICA IN MOTION FILM FESTIVAL

FILM & TV Various venues, Edinburgh and Glasgow, africa-in-motion.org. uk

Dedicated to showing the diversity of African cinema, AiM has screenings of animated films, features, shorts and documentaries, as well as a short film competition to develop the next generation of African filmmakers.

23 OCTOBER–1 NOVEMBER

GALOSHANS FESTIVAL FAMILY Various venues, Greenock, galoshansfestival.com

A Halloween festival that merges cultures from Scotland and across Europe in a programme of street theatre, dance, art, drama and music.

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PHOTO: KATHRYN RATT RAY

SPOTLIGHT ON . . .

NEON DUNDEE NEoN (North East of North) celebrates its tenth birthday this year having initially been set up with the purpose of advancing knowledge and access of artforms driven by digital technology.

Based in the digital culture hotspot of Dundee, NEoN lays on exhibitions, talks and performances which bring together both emerging artists and established names. NEoN is a sustainable project too: as part of the Green Arts Initiative, the festival takes its responsibility to the environment seriously and encourages those attending to be like-minded greens.

In 2019, organisers invited artists, activists and community groups to react to the sweeping changes happening across the globe. Highlights included a narrative-led role-playing game This Burnt Earth, a podcast series entitled The (Not) Listening Project, and an exhibition about protest called Take (To) The Streets, (Brian Donaldson) ■ Various venues, Dundee, 12–14 November, northeastofnorth.com

28–31 OCTOBER

FACLAN: THE HEBRIDEAN BOOK FESTIVAL FAMILY / LITERATURE / THEATRE & DANCE An Lanntair Arts Centre and Cinema, Stornoway, lanntair.com/faclan

Fed and nourished by its location in the Gaelic heartland this festival has diversified to now feature silent and archive film with live piano accompaniment and exhibitions.

29 OCTOBER–1 NOVEMBER

DOCUMENT FILM FESTIVAL

FILM & TV / POLITICS CCA, Glasgow, documentfilmfestival.org

This dedicated international human rights documentary festival uses international film to raise the profile of human rights and social issues that are not exposed in the mainstream media.

30 & 31 OCTOBER

PAISLEY HALLOWEEN FESTIVAL FAMILY Town Centre, Paisley paisley.is

Halloween comes back to Paisley for this annual festival of the macabre. Featuring performances, live entertainment and a Mardi Gras parade.

31 OCTOBER

PERTH (ALL SCOTLAND) ACCORDION AND FIDDLE FESTIVAL MUSIC Salutation Hotel, Perth, perthaccordionfestival.co.uk

The 71st edition of the annual festival celebrating the accordion and fiddle. Registration will open in August 2020.

31 OCTOBER

SAMHUINN FIRE FESTIVAL FAMILY / THEATRE & DANCE

84

Calton Hill, Edinburgh, beltane.org Hosted by Beltane Fire Society, the Samhuinn Fire Festival celebrates the Celtic New Year, marking the end of summer and welcoming the onset of winter.

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER, DATES TBC

ARTISTS' MOVING IMAGE FESTIVAL

FILM & TV Tramway, Glasgow, luxscotland. org.uk/programme/artistsmoving-image-festival-amif

Work by artists working in the field of moving image, presented in partnership with Lux Scotland.

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER, DATES TBC

DUNDEE JAZZ FESTIVAL

MUSIC Various venues, Dundee, jazzdundee.co.uk

International jazz names rub shoulders with Dundonian talent in a programme that covers many styles of jazz, including blues, soul, funk, big band and Latin.

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER, DATES TBC

GRAPHIC DESIGN FESTIVAL SCOTLAND

ART Venue TBC, Glasgow, graphicdesignfestivalscotland. com

Festival aiming to inspire young designers through active engagement, all while promoting creativity, collaboration, friendly competition and fun.

OCTOBER & NOVEMBER, DATES TBC

SOUND FESTIVAL

MUSIC Various venues, Aberdeenshire, sound-scotland.co.uk

An innovative festival of new music bringing together a wide range of different musical styles.

LIST.CO.UK/FESTIVALS

2020 THE GUIDE TO SCOTLAND’S FESTIVALS

NOVEMBER 4 NOVEMBER–17 DECEMBER

FRENCH FILM FESTIVAL UK

FILM & TV Various venues, Scotland, frenchfilmfestival.org.uk

The UK-wide festival dedicated to Francophone cinema, with a programme that features guest filmmakers and actors in meet-the-public sessions, UK premieres, retrospectives, a learning programme for pupils and their teachers, documentaries, animation, shorts and special events.

5–7 NOVEMBER

CHRYSALIS THEATRE Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh ytas.org.uk/chrysalis

Chrysalis festival brings together theatre companies from across the UK for a weekend of youth theatre.

6–8 NOVEMBER

CARRYING STREAM FESTIVAL MUSIC Venue tbc, Edinburgh, carryingstreamfestival.co.uk

Annual celebration of the life and work of Hamish Henderson, the founding father of the Scottish folk revival. His legacy is celebrated with a range of events including storytelling, gigs, traditional music and poetry.

6–8 NOVEMBER

PERTHSHIRE AMBER FESTIVAL FAMILY / MUSIC Various venues, Perthshire, perthshireamber.com

This traditional music festival takes place across autumnal Perthshire.

Expect some big names at the afternoon and evening concerts, plus plenty of other activities including the Decorated Wheelbarrow Parade and Amber Autumn Picnic.

7 NOVEMBER

STIRLING GIN FESTIVAL FOOD & DRINK Stirling Highland Hotel, Stirling, stirlingwhiskyshop.com/ StirlingGinFestival

A celebration of gin from the Stirling Spirit Company.

7 NOVEMBER

THE GREAT WESTERN MUSIC Various venues, Glasgow, tgwfest.com

Multi-venue arts and music festival, showcasing a range of talent Glasgow’s West End. 7 & 8 NOVEMBER

GLASGOW FESTIVAL OF ARABIC DANCE THEATRE & DANCE Venue tbc, Glasgow, glasgowfad.com

A weekend of oriental and tribal bellydance workshops, followed by evening performances from the UK’s top bellydancers.

8 NOVEMBER–31 JANUARY

CITY OF PERTH WINTER FESTIVAL FAMILY / MUSIC / THEATRE & DANCE Various venues, Perth, perthcity.co.uk

A whole range of days out, activities, theatre and music events to brighten up the cold winter months. Highlights include the Perth Christmas Lights Switch-On Party, the Festive Market, Fair Sunday, funfair rides and much more besides.

10–15 NOVEMBER

HAVANA GLASGOW FILM FESTIVAL FILM & TV Various venues, Glasgow, hgfilmfest.com

A celebration of the culture of Glasgow and Havana with a programme of film, dance, music, social events and discussions.

SPOTLIGHT ON . . .

DUNOON FILM FESTIVAL Situated in the Cowal Peninsula, the coastal town of Dunoon plays host to this autumnal film festival, now entering its eighth year. Presented by Dunoon Burgh Hall Trust, last year’s events included classic film screenings, new works by veteran directors Ken Loach and Pedro Almodóvar, and a special immersive cinematic tour of the town entitled A Wall is a Screen.

For 2019, there was also a focus on the most recent Scottish films, a sing-a-long screening of Calamity Jane and a selection of documentaries

by Cowal Cinema Club.

And for the first time, many of the screenings also featured subtitles for the hard of hearing. With its international scope covering a range of genres, this well-established film festival is popular with audiences across the age spectrum.

(Murray Robertson) ■ Various venues, Dunoon, November, dunoonfilmfestival. org

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THE GUIDE TO SCOTLAND’S FESTIVALS 2020

12–14 NOVEMBER

NEON DUNDEE ART / FAMILY / SCIENCE Various venues, Dundee, northeastofnorth.com

See Spotlight, page 84.

13–22 NOVEMBER

OBAN WINTER FESTIVAL FAMILY Various venues, Oban, obanwinterfestival.com

The coastal town gets frosty with a series of activities, films and light shows to celebrate the fluffy white season that carries the year to a close.

14 NOVEMBER

FESTIVAL OF WINE FOOD & DRINK The Balmoral, Edinburgh, festival-of-wine.com

A tasting of more than 200 wines poured by some of the country’s best retailers and the world’s finest producers. Sample some wines, stock your drinks cabinet and enter blind tasting competitions.

14 & 15 NOVEMBER

GLASGOW FESTIVAL OF BURLESQUE THEATRE & DANCE Various venues, Glasgow, glasgowfestivalofburlesque.com

A festival celebrating the very best in the ancient art of cabaret, with some workshops and performances throughout the programme.

16–22 NOVEMBER

BOOK WEEK SCOTLAND FAMILY / LITERATURE / POLITICS Various venues, Scotland, bookweekscotland.com

A packed programme of starstudded author events, kids’ activities and the distribution of free books all combine to form a week-long national celebration of books and reading.

86

20–22 NOVEMBER

26–28 NOVEMBER

FAMILY / MUSIC The Pleasance, Edinburgh, scotsfiddlefestival.com

FILM & TV / OUTDOOR Bonar Hall, Dundee, dundeemountainfilm.org.uk

SCOTS FIDDLE FESTIVAL

A thoroughly exciting, fiddlefuelled weekend with concerts, recitals, workshops, talks, stalls, sessions, festival clubs and ceilidhs.

20–28 NOVEMBER

SEALL FESTIVAL OF SMALL HALLS MUSIC Various venues, Isle of Skye, smallhallsfestival.co.uk

Eight-day multi-platform winter festival taking big music to small halls.

DUNDEE MOUNTAIN FILM FESTIVAL

An international programme of films by local makers, presentations and book signings by world renowned mountaineers, adventurers and expedition leaders with art and photography exhibitions.

28 NOVEMBER

DRAMBUSTERS WHISKY FESTIVAL FOOD & DRINK Easterbrook Hall, Dumfries, drambusters.com

20 NOVEMBER–29 DECEMBER

Whisky festival proudly celebrating the water of life. Meet the makers and celebrities of the whisky world and have yourself a dram from a range of malts and other spirits.

FAMILY / OUTDOOR Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh, rbge.uk

28 NOVEMBER

CHRISTMAS AT THE BOTANICS

Wander beneath the tree canopies bathed in seasonal colour, enjoy the sounds of the Choir of the Trees and keep an eye out for Santa and his busy elves.

21 NOVEMBER

GLASGOW’S WHISKY FESTIVAL FOOD & DRINK Hampden Park, Glasgow, glasgowswhiskyfestival.com

Glasgow’s festival of the national tipple returns for 2020, with more than 60 stands featuring whisky, gin, rum, other spirits and whisky gifts in Scotland’s National Stadium.

23–30 NOVEMBER

THE SALTIRE FESTIVAL HERITAGE / MUSIC Various venues, East Lothian, saltirefestival.com

A patriotic and colourful festival of music, culture, community and heritage.

HIGHLAND FOOD AND DRINK FESTIVAL FAMILY / FOOD & DRINK Eden Court Theatre and Cinema, Inverness, eden-court.co.uk

Here comes the best of Scottish food and drink, with producers exhibiting their delicious and hearty wares.

29 NOVEMBER

PERTH ST ANDREW’S DAY SCOTTISH FESTIVAL FAMILY / HERITAGE / MUSIC City Centre, Perth, perthcity.co.uk

Celebrate St Andrew’s Day with live music and a marketplace selling food and drink.

NOVEMBER, DATES TBC

DUNOON FILM FESTIVAL FILM & TV Various venues, Dunoon, dunoonfilmfestival.org

See Spotlight, page 85.

LIST.CO.UK/FESTIVALS

2020 THE GUIDE TO SCOTLAND’S FESTIVALS

NOVEMBER–DECEMBER, DATES TBC

STIRLING WINTER FESTIVAL FAMILY / MULTI-ARTS Various venues, Stirling, stirlingwinterfestival.com

See Panel, right.

NOVEMBER, DATES TBC

COVE AND KILCREGGAN BOOK FESTIVAL LITERATURE Cove Burgh Hall, Helensburgh, coveburghhall.uk

Expect lively book discussions and well-known authors at this book festival.

DECEMBER 27 DECEMBER–3 JANUARY

EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL MAGIC FESTIVAL

FAMILY / THEATRE & DANCE Various venues, Edinburgh, magicfest.co.uk

MagicFest presents another programme of close-up conundrums, mind-boggling illusions and comic cabaret.

30 DECEMBER–1 JANUARY

EDINBURGH’S HOGMANAY

MUSIC Various venues, Edinburgh, edinburghshogmanay.com

Edinburgh’s world-famous Hogmanay celebrations usher in the new year with a bang via a massive street party, fireworks and the Loony Dook for the braver among you.

DECEMBER, DATES TBC

CROMARTY FILM FESTIVAL

FILM & TV Various venues, Cromarty, cromartyfilmfestival.org

A film festival that fosters an intimate relationship between audience and guests.

STIRLING WINTER FESTIVAL As the festive season approaches, Stirling plays host to a jampacked programme of entertainment for audiences of all ages. Every year, the annual Winter Festival lights up the city with a festive feast of events ranging from markets to concerts welcoming in the season in suitable fashion. A major festival highlight is the spectacular Christmas lights switch-on, which kicks off the whole programme with the traditional Santa and reindeer parade through the city. The 2019 Winter Festival featured performances from local singer Alix Muir, and Anya, Kevin and Gary from Funbox (formerly The Singing Kettle), ahead of the big lights switch-on.

Elsewhere in the programme, Stirling’s Hogmanay ensures that the city brings in the New Year in style, with two events hosted on the iconic Stirling Castle Esplanade. With live music, dancing, food vendors and fireworks, there’s no better way to celebrate, whether you’re enjoying the family Hogmanay party in the evening or staying late for the main midnight event. Last year’s Hogmanay featured excellent sets from Celtic fusion group Treacherous Orchestra and singer-songwriter Stephanie Cheape, with Glaswegian alt-trad band Dlù and young pop singer Gemma Lamont entertaining crowds at the family-friendly concert earlier in the evening.

Both events culminate with colourful firework displays illuminating Stirling Castle, and last year’s big finale was set against a backdrop of Scottish songs that reference coasts and waters to mark the start of 2020’s themed year. (Arusa Qureshi) ■ Various venues, Stirling, November–December, stirlingwinterfestival.com 87

THE GUIDE TO SCOTLAND’S FESTIVALS 2020

INDEX There are two indexes: The first lists festivals alphabetically and the second by category.

150 Years of Lighting Up Scurdie Ness 33 Aberdeen and North East of Scotland Music Festival 55 Aberdeen Craft and Ale Trail 42 Aberdeen International Comedy Festival 80 Aberdeen Jazz Festival 34 Adam Smith Food and Drink Fair 38 Africa in Motion Film Festival 83 Aiseag 82 Alchemy Film and Moving Image Festival 43 Allan Ramsay Festival 82 Angus Glens Walking Festival 54 Anstruther Harbour Festival 58 Arbroath 2020 43 Arran Folk Festival 58 Arran Malt & Music Festival 60 Arran Mountain Festival 49 Art Walk Porty Arts Festival 76 Artists’ Moving Image Festival 84 Arts Across Learning Festival 30 Audacious Women Festival 28 Aviemore’s Big Mix Festival 77 Aye Write! Glasgow’s Book Festival 34 Ayrshire Real Ale Festival 80 Ballantrae Festival of Food & Drink 58 Ballater Walking Festival 49 Balquhidder, Lochearnhead and Strathyre Highland Games 68 Bandstand Beer and Music Festival 50 Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour 24 Banjo Mandolin Guitar Federation Festival 38 Baxters Loch Ness Marathon and Festival of Running 81 BearScotFest 80 Bell Rock Music Festival 72 Bellaldrum Tartan Heart Festival 68 Beltane Fire Festival 42 Beyond Borders International Festival 72 Big Burns Supper 24 Big Lit 40 Big Roman Week 77 Bloody Scotland 78 Bonfest 44 88

Book Week Scotland 86 Booked! 54 Bootstock 76 Borders Book Festival 56 Boswell Book Festival 47 Braemar Creative Arts Festival 83 Braemar Gathering 74 Bridge Festival 47 Burns Hame Toun 24 Burns Night at the Brewery 25 Burns’ Birthday in Mauchline 25 Burns&Beyond with Johnnie Walker (Including Chinese New Year) 24 Burnsfest 24 Bute Manouche: Scotland’s Gypsy Jazz Festival 83 Bute Noir 68 ButeFest 68 BWA Tiree Wave Classic 82 C2C: Country to Country 35 Cairngorms Yoga Festival 72 Caithness International Science Festival 36 Callander & Trossachs Summerfest 66 Callander Jazz and Blues Festival 80 Campsie Mayfest 49 Canal Festival: Time Machine 54 Cantilena Festival on Islay 62 Capital Sci-Fi Con 28 Carrying Stream Festival 85 Celtic Connections 24 Celts are Coming 69 Ceòl Cholasa 77 Ceòlas 62 Christmas at the Botanics 86 Chrysalis 85 City of Elgin Food & Drink Festival 70 City of Perth Winter Festival 85 Climate Fringe 80 Clyde Comedy Festival 60 Clydebuilt Festival 78 CoastWord Festival 50 Coll Bird Festival 47 Colonsay Book Festival 42 Colonsay Festival of Spring 42 Coloursfest 69 Comrie Film Festival 27 Conpulsion Flame 39 Counterflows 39 Cove and Kilcreggan Book Festival 87 Cowal Highland Gathering 72 Crail Food Festival 58 Crieff & Strathearn Drovers’ Tryst Walking Festival 50 Cromarty Film Festival 87 Cullen Skink World Championships 34

Cumnock Tryst 80 Cymera 56 DanceLive 82 Dead by Dawn 40 Detox Health Beauty Wellness Festival 49 Discovery Film Festival 82 Document Film Festival 84 DolphinFest 40 Dornoch Grand Fibre Fest 35 Doune the Rabbit Hole 66 Drambusters Whisky Festival 86 Drumlanrig Off-Road Motorsport Festival 60 Dumbarton Festival River Town 55 Dumfries & Galloway Arts Festival 53 Dumfries & Galloway Science Festival 54 Dumfries Music Conference 82 Dundead Horror Film Festival 44 Dundee Flower & Food Festival 74 Dundee Jazz Festival 84 Dundee Mountain Film Festival 86 Dundee Summer Streets Festival 60 Dundee Westfest: Big Sunday 56 Dundee Women’s Festival 33 Dunoon Film Festival 86 Eaglesham Beer Festival 54 East Neuk Festival 62 Eden Festival 56 Edinburgh Art Festival 68 Edinburgh Craft Beer Festival 66 Edinburgh Festival Fringe 69 Edinburgh Film Fest in the City 58 Edinburgh Food Festival 68 Edinburgh Horror Festival 83 Edinburgh International Book Festival 71 Edinburgh International Children’s Festival 50 Edinburgh International Festival 70 Edinburgh International Film Festival 59 Edinburgh International Harp Festival 39 Edinburgh International Improv Festival 30 Edinburgh International Magic Festival 87 Edinburgh International Television Festival 72 Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival 66 Edinburgh Marathon Festival 53 Edinburgh Mountain Film Festival 28 Edinburgh Science Festival 39 Edinburgh Tradfest 44 Edinburgh Wellbeing Festival 27 Edinburgh Whisky Festival 56 Edinburgh World Justice Festival 80 Edinburgh’s Festival of Ireland 36 Edinburgh’s Hogmanay 87 LIST.CO.UK/FESTIVALS

2020 THE GUIDE TO SCOTLAND’S FESTIVALS

Eilean Dorcha Festival Enchanted Forest Faclan: The Hebridean Book Festival Falkirk Gin Social Falkirk Science Festival Falkirk Whisky Social Femspectives Festival of Museums Festival of the Future Festival of Wine Fife Brass Band Festival Fife Festival of Music Fife Whisky Festival FifeSing: The Fife Traditional Singing Festival Findhorn Bay Festival Fisherfolk Festival Fly Open Air Festival Folk Film Gathering Foodies Festival Fort William Mountain Festival French Film Festival UK Fringe by the Sea FyneFest Gala Rocks Galloway Country Fair Galloway Music Festival Galoshans Festival Gardening Scotland Garnock Valley Carves Gathering Get Creative Festival Gig in the Goiil Girvan Traditional Folk Festival Glasgow Canal Festival Glasgow Cathedral Festival Glasgow Coffee Festival Glasgow Comic Con Glasgow Festival of Arabic Dance Glasgow Festival of Burlesque Glasgow Film Festival Glasgow International Glasgow International Canal Programme Glasgow International Comedy Festival Glasgow Real Ale Festival Glasgow Science Festival: Glasgow Steams Ahead!

Glasgow Short Film Festival Glasgow Zine Fest Glasgow’s Whisky Festival Glenfarg Folk Feast Granite Noir Graphic Design Festival Scotland Great Western

68 80 84 40 47 71 28 49 82 86 42 26 33 49 78 56 49 54 69 28 85 69 56 68 72 34 83 54 77 54 47 44 44 68 78 44 62 85 86 30 42 42 35 60 55 36 40 86 39 28 84 85

GWCT Scottish Game Fair Haddo Arts Festival Havana Glasgow Film Festival Hawick Reivers Festival HebCelt Hebridean Dark Skies Festival Hebridean Whisky Trail Festival Hebrides International Film Festival Hidden Door Festival Highland Food and Drink Festival Highlands and Islands Music and Dance Festival Hina Matsuri Japanese Spring Festival Hippfest Horsecross Youth Arts Festival Huntly Hairst Food and Farming Festival Iberodocs Innerleithen Music Festival Innerleithen Pipe Band Championships Inverness Music Festival Inverurie Beer Festival Islay Book Festival Islay Festival of Music and Malt Islay Jazz Festival Isle Martin Seaweed Festival Isle of Jura Music Festival Italian Film Festival Juniper Festival Jupiter Rising Just Festival Just Start Here Kelburn Garden Party Kelso Folk Festival Killin Music Festival King Tut’s New Year’s Revolution King Tut’s Summer Nights Kirkcudbright Festival of Light Kirkintilloch Canal Festival Knockengorroch Festival Lammermuir Festival Largs Viking Festival Leith Comedy Festival Leith Festival Lentfest Lilias Day Festival Loch Lomond Food & Drink Festival Loch Ness Film Festival Loch Ness Knit Fest Loch Shiel Spring Festival Lochwinnoch Arts Festival Lords of the Land Festival Making Waves Festival Manipulate Festival

62 81 85 38 66 27 50 80 82 86 43 33 36 59 74 30 71 56 33 38 72 50 80 76 78 54 56 74 70 33 62 74 60 24 66 81 71 50 76 74 83 59 30 56 76 68 83 47 33 39 66 26

Marine Fest Marymass Festival McLellan Arts Festival Mhor Festival Midlothian Outdoor Festival Midstock Festival Midsummer Music Festival Moniaive Folk Festival Moniaive Michaelmas Bluegrass Festival Moray Walking & Outdoor Festival Muckle Toon Adventure Festival Mugstock Festival Mull of Kintyre Music Festival Music at Paxton Musselburgh Festival Nairn Book and Arts Festival National Whisky Festival NEoN Dundee NEOS: North East Open Studios Ness Book Fest Newcastleton Traditional Music Festival Newton Stewart and Minnigaff Traditional Music and Dance Festival Niel Gow Festival North Ronaldsay Sheep Festival Northern Lights Festival Northern Streams Nuart Aberdeen Oban Winter Festival Oban, Lorn and the Isles’ Festival of the Sea Off the Page Stirling Book Festival On the Rocks Student Arts Festival Open Studios North Fife Orkney Blues Festival Orkney Folk Festival Orkney International Science Festival Orkney Nature Festival Orkney Storytelling Festival Outwith Festival Paisley Book Festival Paisley Comic Con Paisley Food and Drink Festival Paisley Halloween Festival Party at the Palace Peebles Outdoor Film Festival Penfest Perform in Perth Perth (All Scotland) Accordion and Fiddle Festival Perth Beer Festival Perth Festival of the Arts Perth Festival of Yarn Perth Riverside Light Nights

55 71 74 50 71 68 60 47 78 58 60 69 71 66 68 76 25 86 77 80 62 62 38 68 77 42 40 86 53 33 39 47 78 50 74 47 83 74 28 40 42 84 70 25 80 34 84 44 50 77 26 89

THE GUIDE TO SCOTLAND’S FESTIVALS 2020

Perth St Andrew’s Day Scottish Festival 86 Perthshire Amber Festival 85 Piping Live!

Glasgow International Piping Festival 71 Pitmedden Music Festival 54 Pittenweem Arts Festival 69 Playground Festival 69 Portobello Book Festival 80 Portsoy Music Festival: The Eleventh Haal 56 Potfest Scotland 58 Pride Scotland 83 Puppet Animation Festival 38 Rattray Arts Festival 74 Red, Red Rose Street 24 Refugee Festival Scotland 59 Resonate Total Gaming 66 Rewind Scotland 66 Riverside Festival 54 Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo 69 Royal National Mòd 81 Saltire Festival 86 Samhuinn Fire Festival 84 Scalarama 74 Scapa Fest: The Yoga & Adventure Festival 44 Scotland Calling 42 Scotland’s Boat Show: River of Light 81 Scots Fiddle Festival 86 Scottish Borders Walking Festival 76 Scottish Food & Drink Fortnight 76 Scottish International Storytelling Festival 82 Scottish Learning Festival 78 Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival 44 Scottish Queer International Film Festival 82 Scottish Snowdrop Festival 26 Scottish Traditional Boat Festival 60 Scottish Wild Food Festival 47 Screen.Dance 60 Screenplay 74 Sea Change Film Festival 80 SEALL Festival of Small Halls 86 Shetland Accordion and Fiddle Festival 81 Shetland Boat Week: Exploring Coasts and Waters 68 Shetland Folk Festival 43 Shetland Schools’ Music Festival 36 Shetland Wool Week 78 Skye Festival: Fèis an Eilein 62 Skye Live 80 Sma’ Shot Day 62 Solas Festival 60 90

Something Has to Happen 27 Sound Festival 84 Southside Fringe 47 Spectra: Aberdeen’s Festival of Light 28 Speyfest 68 Spirit of Moray Book Festival 77 Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival 42 Spree 81 Spring Fling 54 Springfest: The Scottish Food & Drink Festival 39 St Andrews Food and Drink Festival 40 St Andrews Voices 82 St Kilda Challenge & Festival 56 St Magnus International Festival 60 St Monans Community Arts Festival 77 Stanza 33 Steornabhagh air a’ Chuan / Stornoway on the Ocean 72 Stereofunk Festival 44 Stirling Gin Festival 85 Stirling Winter Festival 87 Stonehaven Folk Festival 63 Stranraer Oyster Festival 76 Stranraer RNLI Park Fest 71 Strathaven Balloon Festival 72 Strathaven Folk Festival 68 Sufi Festival 69 Summer Nights 69 Summerhall Beer Festivale 40 Take Me Somewhere 49 Take One Action Film Festival 77 Tarbert Seafood Festival 62 Taste of Grampian 56 Taste of Orkney Food Festival 78 Tempest Brewery Co Springfest 49 Terminal V 39 Tidelines Book Festival 78 Tiree Music Festival 63 TMSA Keith Festival 58 TMSA Kirriemuir Festival of Music and Song 74 Trnsmt Festival 63 Trossachs Beer Festival 72 Truckfest 69 True North 78 Turing Fest 69 Tweedlove Bike Festival 54 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup 56 UEFA Festival 58 Ullapool Book Festival 47 Ullapool Dance Festival 34 Ullapool Guitar Festival 80 University of Aberdeen May Festival 54 Unstfest 63 Up Helly Aa 26

Vibration Festival 53 Walk Islay 40 Wee Dub Festival 35 Wee G&T Festival 81 Wee Write!

33 West End Festival 54 Whisky Fringe 69 Wide Days 40 Wigtown Book Festival 78 Wildfire Festival 60 Wildhood: A Children’s Festival 56 Winter Words Festival 27 WoFF: World of Film International Festival Glasgow 81 Woodland Dance Project 47 World Pipe Band Championships 71 Write by the Sea 36 XpoNorth 60 Youth Beatz 60

CATEGORY ART 150 Years of Lighting Up Scurdie Ness 33 Aiseag 82 Alchemy Film and Moving Image Festival 43 Arbroath 2020 43 Art Walk Porty Arts Festival 76 Aviemore’s Big Mix Festival 77 Beyond Borders International Festival 72 Braemar Creative Arts Festival 83 Callander & Trossachs Summerfest 66 Campsie Mayfest 49 Canal Festival: Time Machine 54 Counterflows 39 Dornoch Grand Fibre Fest 35 Dumbarton Festival River Town 55 Dundee Summer Streets Festival 60 East Neuk Festival 62 Edinburgh Art Festival 68 Edinburgh Festival Fringe 69 Enchanted Forest 80 Findhorn Bay Festival 78 Garnock Valley Carves 77 Glasgow International 42 Glasgow International Canal Programme 42 Graphic Design Festival Scotland 84 Haddo Arts Festival 81 Hidden Door Festival 82 Jupiter Rising 74 Just Festival 70 LIST.CO.UK/FESTIVALS

2020 THE GUIDE TO SCOTLAND’S FESTIVALS

Leith Festival Lochwinnoch Arts Festival Nairn Book and Arts Festival NEoN Dundee NEOS: North East Open Studios Northern Lights Festival Nuart Aberdeen On the Rocks Student Arts Festival Open Studios North Fife Outwith Festival Penfest Perth Festival of the Arts Perth Festival of Yarn Pittenweem Arts Festival Potfest Scotland Rattray Arts Festival Refugee Festival Scotland Royal National Mòd Solas Festival Southside Fringe Spectra: Aberdeen’s Festival of Light Spring Fling St Monans Community Arts Festival West End Festival

59 33 76 86 77 77 40 39 47 74 80 50 77 69 58 74 59 81 60 47 28 54 77 54

COMEDY Aberdeen International Comedy Festival Big Burns Supper Clyde Comedy Festival Dumfries & Galloway Arts Festival Edinburgh Festival Fringe Edinburgh Horror Festival Edinburgh International Improv Festival Findhorn Bay Festival Fringe by the Sea Glasgow International Comedy Festival Leith Comedy Festival Outwith Festival Perth Festival of the Arts Southside Fringe Spree West End Festival

80 24 60 53 69 83 30 78 69 35 83 74 50 47 81 54

COMMUNITY Get Creative Festival Pride Scotland Refugee Festival Scotland Stranraer RNLI Park Fest Sufi Festival

47 83 59 71 69

FAMILY Enchanted Forest Adam Smith Food and Drink Fair

80 38

Aiseag 82 Anstruther Harbour Festival 58 Arbroath 2020 43 Arts Across Learning Festival 30 Balquhidder, Lochearnhead and Strathyre Highland Games 68 Baxters Loch Ness Marathon and Festival of Running 81 Bellaldrum Tartan Heart Festival 68 Big Roman Week 77 Book Week Scotland 86 Borders Book Festival 56 Boswell Book Festival 47 Braemar Gathering 74 Burns Hame Toun 24 Burns’ Birthday in Mauchline 25 Burnsfest 24 Cairngorms Yoga Festival 72 Caithness International Science Festival 36 Callander & Trossachs Summerfest 66 Campsie Mayfest 49 Celts are Coming 69 Christmas at the Botanics 86 City of Elgin Food & Drink Festival 70 City of Perth Winter Festival 85 Climate Fringe 80 CoastWord Festival 50 Colonsay Book Festival 42 Colonsay Festival of Spring 42 Conpulsion Flame 39 Cowal Highland Gathering 72 Crail Food Festival 58 DanceLive 82 Discovery Film Festival 82 DolphinFest 40 Dumfries & Galloway Science Festival 54 Dundee Flower & Food Festival 74 Dundee Summer Streets Festival 60 Dundee Westfest: Big Sunday 56 Eden Festival 56 Edinburgh Art Festival 68 Edinburgh Festival Fringe 69 Edinburgh International Book Festival 71 Edinburgh International Children’s Festival 50 Edinburgh International Festival 70 Edinburgh International Film Festival 59 Edinburgh International Harp Festival 39 Edinburgh International Magic Festival 87 Edinburgh Science Festival 39 Edinburgh’s Festival of Ireland 36 Faclan: The Hebridean Book Festival 84 Festival of Museums 49 Festival of the Future 82

FifeSing: The Fife Traditional Singing Festival Foodies Festival Fringe by the Sea FyneFest Gala Rocks Galloway Country Fair Galoshans Festival Gardening Scotland Garnock Valley Carves Glasgow Canal Festival Glasgow International Glasgow International Comedy Festival Glasgow Science Festival: Glasgow Steams Ahead!

Glenfarg Folk Feast Granite Noir GWCT Scottish Game Fair Hawick Reivers Festival HebCelt Highland Food and Drink Festival Hina Matsuri Japanese Spring Festival Hippfest Horsecross Youth Arts Festival Huntly Hairst Food and Farming Festival Islay Book Festival Kelburn Garden Party Kirkcudbright Festival of Light Kirkintilloch Canal Festival Knockengorroch Festival Largs Viking Festival Lilias Day Festival Loch Lomond Food & Drink Festival Loch Ness Knit Fest Making Waves Festival Manipulate Festival Marine Fest Marymass Festival McLellan Arts Festival Mhor Festival Midlothian Outdoor Festival Moniaive Folk Festival Muckle Toon Adventure Festival Mugstock Festival Mull of Kintyre Music Festival Musselburgh Festival Nairn Book and Arts Festival NEoN Dundee Newcastleton Traditional Music Festival North Ronaldsay Sheep Festival Northern Streams Oban Winter Festival

49 69 69 56 68 72 83 54 77 68 42 35 55 39 28 62 38 66 86 33 36 59 74 72 62 81 71 50 74 56 76 83 66 26 55 71 74 50 71 47 60 69 71 68 76 86 62 68 42 86 91

THE GUIDE TO SCOTLAND’S FESTIVALS 2020

Oban, Lorn and the Isles’ Festival of the Sea 53 Off the Page Stirling Book Festival 33 On the Rocks Student Arts Festival 39 Orkney Folk Festival 50 Orkney International Science Festival 74 Orkney Nature Festival 47 Paisley Halloween Festival 84 Penfest 80 Perth Festival of Yarn 77 Perth St Andrew’s Day Scottish Festival 86 Perthshire Amber Festival 85 Piping Live! Glasgow International Piping Festival 71 Pitmedden Music Festival 54 Pittenweem Arts Festival 69 Puppet Animation Festival 38 Rattray Arts Festival 74 Resonate Total Gaming 66 Samhuinn Fire Festival 84 Scapa Fest: The Yoga & Adventure Festival 44 Scots Fiddle Festival 86 Scottish Food & Drink Fortnight 76 Scottish International Storytelling Festival 82 Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival 44 Scottish Snowdrop Festival 26 Scottish Traditional Boat Festival 60 Shetland Schools’ Music Festival 36 Shetland Wool Week 78 Sma’ Shot Day 62 Spectra: Aberdeen’s Festival of Light 28 Spree 81 Spring Fling 54 St Andrews Food and Drink Festival 40 St Andrews Voices 82 Stanza 33 Stirling Winter Festival 87 Stranraer Oyster Festival 76 Stranraer RNLI Park Fest 71 Strathaven Balloon Festival 72 Sufi Festival 69 Tarbert Seafood Festival 62 Tidelines Book Festival 78 Tiree Music Festival 63 TMSA Keith Festival 58 TMSA Kirriemuir Festival of Music and Song 74 Truckfest 69 Tweedlove Bike Festival 54 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup 56 UEFA Festival 58 Ullapool Book Festival 47 Ullapool Dance Festival 34 92

University of Aberdeen May Festival 54 Unstfest 63 Up Helly Aa 26 Vibration Festival 53 Walk Islay 40 Wee Write!

33 West End Festival 54 Wigtown Book Festival 78 Wildhood: A Children’s Festival 56 World Pipe Band Championships 71

FILM & TV Africa in Motion Film Festival 83 Alchemy Film and Moving Image Festival 43 Artists’ Moving Image Festival 84 Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour 24 Callander & Trossachs Summerfest 66 Capital Sci-Fi Con 28 Comrie Film Festival 27 Counterflows 39 Cromarty Film Festival 87 Dead by Dawn 40 Discovery Film Festival 82 Document Film Festival 84 Dundead Horror Film Festival 44 Dundee Mountain Film Festival 86 Dundee Summer Streets Festival 60 Dunoon Film Festival 86 Edinburgh Film Fest in the City 58 Edinburgh Horror Festival 83 Edinburgh International Film Festival 59 Edinburgh International Television Festival 72 Edinburgh Mountain Film Festival 28 Femspectives 28 Folk Film Gathering 54 Fort William Mountain Festival 28 French Film Festival UK 85 Glasgow Film Festival 30 Glasgow Short Film Festival 36 Havana Glasgow Film Festival 85 Hebrides International Film Festival 80 Hippfest 36 Iberodocs 30 Islay Jazz Festival 80 Italian Film Festival 54 Leith Festival 59 Loch Ness Film Festival 68 Manipulate Festival 26 McLellan Arts Festival 74 Nairn Book and Arts Festival 76 Peebles Outdoor Film Festival 25 Refugee Festival Scotland 59 Scalarama 74

Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival 44 Scottish Queer International Film Festival 82 Screen.Dance 60 Screenplay 74 Sea Change Film Festival 80 Take One Action Film Festival 77 University of Aberdeen May Festival 54 WoFF: World of Film International Festival Glasgow 81 XpoNorth 60

FOOD & DRINK Aberdeen Craft and Ale Trail 42 Adam Smith Food and Drink Fair 38 Aiseag 82 Anstruther Harbour Festival 58 Arran Malt & Music Festival 60 Aviemore’s Big Mix Festival 77 Ayrshire Real Ale Festival 80 Ballantrae Festival of Food & Drink 58 Bandstand Beer and Music Festival 50 Burns Night at the Brewery 25 Burnsfest 24 City of Elgin Food & Drink Festival 70 City of Perth Winter Festival 85 Crail Food Festival 58 Cullen Skink World Championships 34 Detox Health Beauty Wellness Festival 49 Drambusters Whisky Festival 86 Dundee Flower & Food Festival 74 Eaglesham Beer Festival 54 Edinburgh Craft Beer Festival 66 Edinburgh Food Festival 68 Edinburgh Wellbeing Festival 27 Edinburgh Whisky Festival 56 Falkirk Gin Social 40 Falkirk Whisky Social 71 Festival of Wine 86 Fife Whisky Festival 33 Foodies Festival 69 Fringe by the Sea 69 FyneFest 56 Gathering 54 Glasgow Coffee Festival 44 Glasgow Real Ale Festival 60 Glasgow’s Whisky Festival 86 Hebridean Whisky Trail Festival 50 Highland Food and Drink Festival 86 Huntly Hairst Food and Farming Festival 74 Inverurie Beer Festival 38 Islay Festival of Music and Malt 50 Isle Martin Seaweed Festival 76 Juniper Festival 56 Just Start Here 33 LIST.CO.UK/FESTIVALS

2020 THE GUIDE TO SCOTLAND’S FESTIVALS

Lilias Day Festival Loch Lomond Food & Drink Festival Mhor Festival National Whisky Festival Paisley Food and Drink Festival Perth Beer Festival Red, Red Rose Street Scapa Fest: The Yoga & Adventure Festival Scottish Food & Drink Fortnight Scottish Wild Food Festival Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival Springfest: The Scottish Food & Drink Festival St Andrews Food and Drink Festival Steornabhagh air a’ Chuan / Stornoway on the Ocean Stirling Gin Festival Stranraer Oyster Festival Summerhall Beer Festivale Tarbert Seafood Festival Taste of Grampian Taste of Orkney Food Festival Tempest Brewery Co Springfest Trossachs Beer Festival University of Aberdeen May Festival Wee G&T Festival Whisky Fringe

56 76 50 25 42 44 24 44 76 47 42 39 40 72 85 76 40 62 56 78 49 72 54 81 69

HERITAGE 150 Years of Lighting Up Scurdie Ness BearScotFest Beltane Fire Festival Big Burns Supper Burns Hame Toun Burns’ Birthday in Mauchline Canal Festival: Time Machine Clydebuilt Festival Dornoch Grand Fibre Fest Edinburgh Tradfest Enchanted Forest Festival of Museums FifeSing: The Fife Traditional Singing Festival Fisherfolk Festival Garnock Valley Carves Glasgow Canal Festival Hawick Reivers Festival Innerleithen Pipe Band Championships Kirkintilloch Canal Festival Largs Viking Festival Leith Festival Marymass Festival Mull of Kintyre Music Festival

33 80 42 24 24 25 54 78 35 44 80 49 49 56 77 68 38 56 71 74 59 71 71

Northern Streams Perth St Andrew’s Day Scottish Festival Red, Red Rose Street Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo Saltire Festival Scotland’s Boat Show: River of Light Scottish Borders Walking Festival Scottish International Storytelling Festival Shetland Accordion and Fiddle Festival Shetland Boat Week: Exploring Coasts and Waters Skye Festival: Fèis an Eilein TMSA Keith Festival Up Helly Aa

42 86 24 69 86 81 76 82 81 68 62 58 26

LITERATURE Allan Ramsay Festival Audacious Women Festival Aye Write! Glasgow’s Book Festival Beyond Borders International Festival Big Lit Bloody Scotland Book Week Scotland Booked!

Borders Book Festival Boswell Book Festival Burns Hame Toun Burns’ Birthday in Mauchline Bute Noir CoastWord Festival Colonsay Book Festival Cove and Kilcreggan Book Festival Cymera Dumfries & Galloway Arts Festival East Neuk Festival Edinburgh Festival Fringe Edinburgh Horror Festival Edinburgh International Book Festival Faclan: The Hebridean Book Festival Findhorn Bay Festival Fringe by the Sea Glasgow Comic Con Glasgow Zine Fest Granite Noir Islay Book Festival McLellan Arts Festival Nairn Book and Arts Festival Ness Book Fest Off the Page Stirling Book Festival Orkney Storytelling Festival Outwith Festival Paisley Book Festival Paisley Comic Con

82 28 34 72 40 78 86 54 56 47 24 25 68 50 42 87 56 53 62 69 83 71 84 78 69 62 40 28 72 74 76 80 33 83 74 28 40

Penfest Portobello Book Festival Refugee Festival Scotland Royal National Mòd Scottish International Storytelling Festival Solas Festival Spirit of Moray Book Festival Spring Fling St Monans Community Arts Festival Stanza Sufi Festival Tidelines Book Festival Ullapool Book Festival University of Aberdeen May Festival Wee Write!

West End Festival Wigtown Book Festival Wildhood: A Children’s Festival Winter Words Festival Write by the Sea

80 80 59 81 82 60 77 54 77 33 69 78 47 54 33 54 78 56 27 36

MUSIC Aberdeen and North East of Scotland Music Festival Aberdeen Jazz Festival Aiseag Allan Ramsay Festival Arbroath 2020 Arran Folk Festival Arran Malt & Music Festival Arts Across Learning Festival Audacious Women Festival Aviemore’s Big Mix Festival Ayrshire Real Ale Festival Bandstand Beer and Music Festival Banjo Mandolin Guitar Federation Festival BearScotFest Bell Rock Music Festival Bellaldrum Tartan Heart Festival Beyond Borders International Festival Big Burns Supper Bonfest Bootstock Braemar Creative Arts Festival Bridge Festival Burns Night at the Brewery Burns&Beyond with Johnnie Walker (Including Chinese New Year) Burnsfest Bute Manouche: Scotland’s Gypsy Jazz Festival ButeFest C2C: Country to Country Callander & Trossachs Summerfest

55 34 82 82 43 58 60 30 28 77 80 50 38 80 72 68 72 24 44 76 83 47 25 24 24 83 68 35 66 93

THE GUIDE TO SCOTLAND’S FESTIVALS 2020

Callander Jazz and Blues Festival 80 Campsie Mayfest 49 Canal Festival: Time Machine 54 Cantilena Festival on Islay 62 Carrying Stream Festival 85 Celtic Connections 24 Ceòl Cholasa 77 Ceòlas 62 City of Perth Winter Festival 85 Clydebuilt Festival 78 Colonsay Festival of Spring 42 Coloursfest 69 Counterflows 39 Cumnock Tryst 80 DanceLive 82 Doune the Rabbit Hole 66 Dumbarton Festival River Town 55 Dumfries & Galloway Arts Festival 53 Dumfries Music Conference 82 Dundee Flower & Food Festival 74 Dundee Jazz Festival 84 Dundee Summer Streets Festival 60 Dundee Westfest: Big Sunday 56 East Neuk Festival 62 Eden Festival 56 Edinburgh Craft Beer Festival 66 Edinburgh Festival Fringe 69 Edinburgh International Festival 70 Edinburgh International Harp Festival 39 Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival 66 Edinburgh Tradfest 44 Edinburgh’s Festival of Ireland 36 Edinburgh’s Hogmanay 87 Eilean Dorcha Festival 68 Festival of the Future 82 Fife Brass Band Festival 42 Fife Festival of Music 26 FifeSing: The Fife Traditional Singing Festival 49 Findhorn Bay Festival 78 Fisherfolk Festival 56 Fly Open Air Festival 49 Foodies Festival 69 Fringe by the Sea 69 FyneFest 56 Gala Rocks 68 Galloway Music Festival 34 Gathering 54 Gig in the Goiil 44 Girvan Traditional Folk Festival 44 Glasgow Cathedral Festival 78 Glasgow Coffee Festival 44 Glenfarg Folk Feast 39 Great Western 85 Haddo Arts Festival 81 Hawick Reivers Festival 38 94

HebCelt 66 Hebridean Dark Skies Festival 27 Hidden Door Festival 82 Highlands and Islands Music and Dance Festival 43 Hina Matsuri Japanese Spring Festival 33 Innerleithen Music Festival 71 Innerleithen Pipe Band Championships 56 Inverness Music Festival 33 Inverurie Beer Festival 38 Islay Festival of Music and Malt 50 Islay Jazz Festival 80 Isle of Jura Music Festival 78 Jupiter Rising 74 Just Start Here 33 Kelburn Garden Party 62 Kelso Folk Festival 74 Killin Music Festival 60 King Tut’s New Year’s Revolution 24 King Tut’s Summer Nights 66 Knockengorroch Festival 50 Lammermuir Festival 76 Leith Festival 59 Lentfest 30 Lilias Day Festival 56 Loch Shiel Spring Festival 47 Lochwinnoch Arts Festival 33 Lords of the Land Festival 39 Making Waves Festival 66 McLellan Arts Festival 74 Midstock Festival 68 Midsummer Music Festival 60 Moniaive Folk Festival 47 Moniaive Michaelmas Bluegrass Festival 78 Mugstock Festival 69 Mull of Kintyre Music Festival 71 Music at Paxton 66 Nairn Book and Arts Festival 76 Newcastleton Traditional Music Festival 62 Newton Stewart and Minnigaff Traditional Music and Dance Festival 62 Niel Gow Festival 38 Northern Streams 42 On the Rocks Student Arts Festival 39 Orkney Blues Festival 78 Orkney Folk Festival 50 Outwith Festival 74 Paisley Food and Drink Festival 42 Party at the Palace 70 Penfest 80 Perform in Perth 34 Perth (All Scotland) Accordion and

Fiddle Festival 84 Perth Beer Festival 44 Perth Festival of the Arts 50 Perth St Andrew’s Day Scottish Festival 86 Perthshire Amber Festival 85 Piping Live! Glasgow International Piping Festival 71 Pitmedden Music Festival 54 Playground Festival 69 Portsoy Music Festival: The Eleventh Haal 56 Refugee Festival Scotland 59 Rewind Scotland 66 Riverside Festival 54 Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo 69 Royal National Mòd 81 Saltire Festival 86 Scotland Calling 42 Scots Fiddle Festival 86 Scottish Traditional Boat Festival 60 SEALL Festival of Small Halls 86 Shetland Accordion and Fiddle Festival 81 Shetland Folk Festival 43 Shetland Schools’ Music Festival 36 Skye Festival: Fèis an Eilein 62 Skye Live 80 Solas Festival 60 Sound Festival 84 Southside Fringe 47 Speyfest 68 Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival 42 Spree 81 Spring Fling 54 St Andrews Voices 82 St Magnus International Festival 60 St Monans Community Arts Festival 77 Steornabhagh air a’ Chuan / Stornoway on the Ocean 72 Stereofunk Festival 44 Stirling Winter Festival 87 Stonehaven Folk Festival 63 Stranraer RNLI Park Fest 71 Strathaven Folk Festival 68 Sufi Festival 69 Summer Nights 69 Tempest Brewery Co Springfest 49 Terminal V 39 Tiree Music Festival 63 TMSA Keith Festival 58 TMSA Kirriemuir Festival of Music and Song 74 Trnsmt Festival 63 True North 78 Tweedlove Bike Festival 54 LIST.CO.UK/FESTIVALS

2020 THE GUIDE TO SCOTLAND’S FESTIVALS

Ullapool Guitar Festival University of Aberdeen May Festival Unstfest Vibration Festival Wee Dub Festival West End Festival Wide Days Wildfire Festival Wildhood: A Children’s Festival Woodland Dance Project World Pipe Band Championships XpoNorth Youth Beatz

80 54 63 53 35 54 40 60 56 47 71 60 60

OUTDOOR Angus Glens Walking Festival Arran Mountain Festival Ballater Walking Festival Baxters Loch Ness Marathon and Festival of Running Beltane Fire Festival BWA Tiree Wave Classic Canal Festival: Time Machine Christmas at the Botanics Coll Bird Festival Colonsay Festival of Spring Cowal Highland Gathering Crieff & Strathearn Drovers’ Tryst Walking Festival Drumlanrig Off-Road Motorsport Festival Dundee Mountain Film Festival Edinburgh Marathon Festival Edinburgh Wellbeing Festival Fort William Mountain Festival Gardening Scotland Kirkintilloch Canal Festival Largs Viking Festival Midlothian Outdoor Festival Moray Walking & Outdoor Festival Muckle Toon Adventure Festival Oban, Lorn and the Isles’ Festival of the Sea Scottish Borders Walking Festival Scottish Snowdrop Festival St Kilda Challenge & Festival Tweedlove Bike Festival UCI Mountain Bike World Cup UEFA Festival Walk Islay

54 49 49 81 42 82 54 86 47 42 72 50 60 86 53 27 28 54 71 74 71 58 60 53 76 26 56 54 56 58 40

POLITICS Beyond Borders International Festival Book Week Scotland Document Film Festival Dundee Women’s Festival

72 86 84 33

Edinburgh Festival Fringe Femspectives Just Festival Pride Scotland Scottish Queer International Film Festival Take One Action Film Festival The Climate Fringe The Edinburgh World Justice Festival

69 28 70 83 82 77 80 80

SCIENCE 150 Years of Lighting Up Scurdie Ness 33 Caithness International Science Festival 36 Dumfries & Galloway Science Festival 54 Edinburgh Science Festival 39 Falkirk Science Festival 47 Festival of the Future 82 Glasgow Science Festival: Glasgow Steams Ahead!

55 Hebridean Dark Skies Festival 27 Marine Fest 55 Mugstock Festival 69 NEoN Dundee 86 Orkney International Science Festival 74 Scottish Learning Festival 78 Turing Fest 69

THEATRE & DANCE Aberdeen and North East of Scotland Music Festival Aiseag Arbroath 2020 Arts Across Learning Festival Audacious Women Festival Bellaldrum Tartan Heart Festival Beyond Borders International Festival Big Burns Supper Braemar Creative Arts Festival Canal Festival: Time Machine Chrysalis City of Perth Winter Festival DanceLive Dumfries & Galloway Arts Festival Dundee Summer Streets Festival Eden Festival Edinburgh Festival Fringe Edinburgh Horror Festival Edinburgh International Children’s Festival Edinburgh International Festival Edinburgh International Magic Festival Edinburgh’s Festival of Ireland Faclan: The Hebridean Book Festival

55 82 43 30 28 68 72 24 83 54 85 85 82 53 60 56 69 83

Findhorn Bay Festival Fringe by the Sea Glasgow Cathedral Festival Glasgow Festival of Arabic Dance Glasgow Festival of Burlesque Haddo Arts Festival Hawick Reivers Festival Hebridean Dark Skies Festival Hidden Door Festival Highlands and Islands Music and Dance Festival Horsecross Youth Arts Festival Just Start Here Lentfest Lochwinnoch Arts Festival Making Waves Festival Manipulate Festival McLellan Arts Festival Mhor Festival Nairn Book and Arts Festival Newton Stewart and Minnigaff Traditional Music and Dance Festival On the Rocks Student Arts Festival Outwith Festival Perth Festival of the Arts Puppet Animation Festival Refugee Festival Scotland Samhuinn Fire Festival Screen.Dance Solas Festival Something Has to Happen Southside Fringe Spring Fling St Magnus International Festival Stirling Winter Festival Sufi Festival Take Me Somewhere Ullapool Dance Festival West End Festival Wildhood: A Children’s Festival WoFF: World of Film International Festival Glasgow

78 69 78 85 86 81 38 27 82 43 59 33 30 33 66 26 74 50 76 62 39 74 50 38 59 84 60 60 27 47 54 60 87 69 49 34 54 56 81

50 70 87 36 84 95

YEAR OF COASTS AND WATERS 2020

get on board with a range of events!

STORM

SEA TAMAGOTCHI

LAUNCH! ON THE SEA WITH SCOTLAND’S LIFEBOATS

CRYPTIC PRESENTS SIGNAL AT DUSK

COASTAL CONNECTIONS

MARINE FEST

SHETLAND BOAT WEEK

YOUR TAY, YOUR ADVENTURE

STEÒRNABHAGH AIR A’CHÙAN

DUMBARTON FESTIVAL RIVER TOWN

AUTUMN OF ENDURANCE

DOON THE WATTER NEVIS WATER STORIES TRAVELLING GALLERY COASTS AND WATERS TOUR STANZA DOLPHINFEST FERRY TALES EDINBURGH SCIENCE FESTIVAL: WATER FOR LIFE ROWAROUND SCOTLAND BRITISH AND SCOTTISH NATIONAL SURFING CHAMPS GLASGOW INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF VISUAL ART (GI)

CANAL FESTIVAL TIME MACHINE

MAKING WAVES FESTIVAL

GLASGOW CANAL FESTIVAL

THE FIFE REGATTA

ISLE MARTIN SEAWEED FESTIVAL

FÈIS CHALA AN T-SRUTHAIR

AISEAG

EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL: SCOTLAND’S SHORES SCOTTISH TRADITIONAL BOAT FESTIVAL: PORTSOY AHOY! CULZEAN BY THE SEA

NORTHERN LIGHTS FESTIVAL CLYDEBUILT FESTIVAL FINDHORN BAY FESTIVAL TASTE OF ORKNEY FESTIVAL

THE SKYE FESTIVAL / FEIS AN EILEIN

SCOTLAND’S BOAT SHOW: RIVER OF LIGHT

COLOURS OF THE CART AS PART OF PAISLEY’S SMA’ SHOT DAY

THE ROYAL NATIONAL MÒD

Check out more events at visitscotland.com/ycw2020 Join the conversation #YCW2020

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Hill of Allargue viewpoint at Corgarff

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Get Creative.

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9-17 May 2020 Find out more at www.getcreativeuk.com

Horsecross Carnival and Parade, Perth.

Photo by Fraser Band.