Christmas market supports Caring Christmas Trees campaign

HOMELESSNESS charity Bethany Christian Trust is holding its first Christmas market as part of its Caring Christmas Trees campaign. The market will take place at St Stephen’s Church of Scotland in Edinburgh’s Comely Bank on 9 and 10 December. Music will be provided by pupils from Broughton High School, alongside stalls run by Edinburgh vendors.…

Read More

Music meets mindfulness in Scottish Ensemble concerts

MINDFULNESS and music are being combined in the latest series of concerts by the Scottish Ensemble. The ensemble’s Breathe performances will take place in Inverness, Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Dundee on 25-28 October. The concerts will feature music by composers including Ludwig van Beethoven, Daniel Kidane, and Caroline Shaw. Led by guest director Tristan Gurney, and…

Read More

St Mary’s Music School concert celebrates female composers

A CONCERT at St Mary’s Music School in Edinburgh will celebrate the work of female composers as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival. “Landscapes and Dances: Songs She Scored Out” will feature music by women whose names were often scored out when their works were published or performed. The concert, which will take place…

Read More

Lowland & Border Pipers’ Society comes to Perth tomorrow

THE Lowland & Border Pipers’ Society is holding its annual conference in Perth tomorrow for the first time. The conference – or “collogue” – will take place at the Fair City’s Royal George Hotel. A concert follows the conference in the evening. Performers at the evening concert will include: Brìghde Chaimbeul and Fin Moore; Pete…

Read More

REVIEW: “South Pacific”

Kenny Smith reviews South Pacific at the Theatre Royal in Glasgow. GROWING up, my parents’ musical tastes were more Gilbert and Sullivan than Lennon and McCartney, and definitely more Rodgers and Hammerstein than Chaka Demus and Pliers. So, I’ve always had an appreciation for a good musical, especially those from the Rodgers and Hammerstein stable,…

Read More

REVIEW: “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel”

Kenny Smith reviews The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel at the Theatre Royal in Glasgow. HANDS UP – I have to admit, I’ve never seen the hit film The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. However, I do know about it and its basic concept, which sees an eclectic group of British retirees travel to India to embark…

Read More

Wigtown Book Festival welcomes fiddlers

MUSICIANS from throughout Dumfries & Galloway joined members of the Scottish Fiddle Orchestra (SFO) for a concert yesterday lunchtime at Wigtown Book Festival. Beth Porter of The Bookshop Band was among the fiddlers taking part, along with her baby, Emmy Please. The SFO was co-founded by the late John Mason, who spent much of his…

Read More

Winners revealed at Bloody Scotland book festival

TWO crime writers carried off the top prizes last night as the Bloody Scotland book festival got underway in Stirling. Alan Parks won the McIlvanney Prize for May God Forgive, while Tariq Ashkanani took the Bloody Scotland Debut Prize with Welcome to Cooper. Ayo Onatade, chair of the McIlvanney Prize judges, described May God Forgive…

Read More

REVIEW: “Girl from the North Country”

Kenny Smith reviews Girl from the North Country at the King’s Theatre in Glasgow. GIRL from the North Country is one of those musicals that I know just one thing about – and that’s it. My knowledge extended to the fact that it’s a show featuring the songs of Bob Dylan, whose lyrical and musical…

Read More

REVIEW: “Beautiful – The Carole King Musical”

Kenny Smith reviews Beautiful – The Carole King Musical at the King’s Theatre in Glasgow. THE name “Carole King” is one that I’ve known for many years, but never really thought much about beyond that. To my shame, I hadn’t really thought much about her life beyond being an accomplished singer-songwriter, but that has been…

Read More