Vigil among Scottish winners at Celtic Media Festival

BBC television series Vigil was among the Scottish winners at this week’s Celtic Media Festival. Last summer’s programme, set on a nuclear submarine, won the drama series category. The six-part series was made by World Productions and broadcast on BBC One. The Celtic Media Festival brings together producers and broadcasters from Brittany, Cornwall, Galicia, Ireland,…

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REVIEW: Disney’s The Lion King show is a roaring success

Having experienced the show’s cacophony of colour and sound, Rosie Morton challenges anyone to sit through Disney’s The Lion King and not be moved to tears IT WAS as if Noah’s Ark had emptied into The Edinburgh Playhouse for a carnival. The orchestra struck up – accompanied by the playful, earthy vibrations of African drums…

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‘Hame’ festival launched for North-East

A NEW festival called “Hame” aims to celebrate “the people, culture, history, heritage, and diversity” of the North-East. Launched today by the Elphinstone Institute at the University of Aberdeen, the programme promises “music, song, dance, slam poetry, storytelling performances, audio-visual exhibitions, displays, public talks, local writing events, and guided walks”. The festival – which runs…

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What’s On This Weekend: Makers, music, and dachshunds

A look at what’s on this weekend around Scotland, with Peter Ranscombe. NEARLY 100 artists throughout Dumfries and Galloway are throwing open the doors to their studios this weekend for Spring Fling. Sixteen of the artists and makers have never taken part before, including slipware potter Mary Gladstone of Craighlaw, Kirkcowan, Newton Stewart, whose pieces…

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Juliet Robertson is top young soloist

PIANIST Juliet Robertson has won the inaugural “Scottish Young Musicians’ solo performer of the year” title. Juliet, 14, from Stirlingshire, won the competition in Glasgow yesterday by playing Claire de Lune by Claude Debussy. She received £1,000 to spend on furthering her musical career and the “Maid of Morven” trophy, which was made by the…

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What’s on this weekend: Art, rivers, and chips

Peter Ranscombe takes a look at what’s on this weekend in Scotland. THE Glasgow Contemporary Arts Fair returns to its marque outside Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum tomorrow. Pieces by local and national artists will be on sale, with prices ranging from £50 to more than £20,000. Organiser Gerry Muldoon said: “Following its two year…

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A week in whisky: World Whisky Day looms

Peter Ranscombe takes his irreverent weekly trek through the world of whisky… WORLD Whisky Day is almost upon us once more, and what better way to celebrate our national drink than pairing it with another Scottish favourite – tatties. Bottler Douglas Laing and teamed up with potato king Albert Bartlett to create three recipes combining…

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Strathallan School opens The Art Cafe

STRATHALLAN School in Perthshire is opening a café in its art department. The Art Café will be run by Blend Coffee, which has shops in Dundee, Paisley, and its native Perth. Strathallan’s Art Café opens to pupils, parents, and friends of the school on 28 May, coinciding with the school’s sports day and the unveiling…

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Scottish Opera opens 50th Perth festival

SCOTTISH Opera will open the 50th Perth Festival of the Arts on Thursday. The festival’s gala opening concert will feature sopranos Eleanor Dennis and Catriona Hewitson, mezzo-sopranos Catriona Morison and Lea Shaw, and baritone Jonathan McGovern. Scottish mezzo-soprano and winner of the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World Catriona Morison is making her debut with…

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Eilidh’s trust helps young musicians with £50,000 fund

YOUNG musicians will benefit from a £50,000 funding scheme set up in memory of 14-year-old piper Eilidh MacLeod from Barra, who was killed in the Manchester Arena bombing. The Eilidh MacLeod Memorial Trust is inviting youth music groups across Scotland to apply for financial support to grow and develop their music lessons by emailing hello@eilidhstrust.org.uk…

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