The joy of six with Hò-rò’s new album Hex

Released last Friday, HEX is the eagerly awaited second album by Hò-rò who boldly promise a very unique sound drawing inspiration from their, now six, individual musical approaches. As is my habit prior to reviewing albums, I listened to the band’s previous offering simply entitled Hò-rò, as a reminder of what had gone before. The…

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Finding delights among Kayra’s Turkish wines

Peter Ranscombe travels to Turkey to explore modern examples from an ancient wine-producing country. WALKING the streets of Istanbul, the shadow that Atatürk still casts over Turkey is inescapable. Portraits of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk – who led the struggle for independence and became the “father of the republic” – hang from the walls of hotels,…

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Surgeons’ Hall hosts A Quest for Healing exhibition

An Edinburgh museum is hosting the debut exhibition of Beijing-based artist Zhang Yanzi. Galerie Ora-Ora has revealed gallery artist Zhang Yanzi’s first solo exhibitions in the United Kingdom with A Quest for Healing at the Surgeons’ Hall Museums in Edinburgh, and A Quest for Wellness at the Museum of East Asian Art in Bath. The exhibitions…

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Mark the Royal Wedding on board the Britannia

Prince Harry’s former holiday ‘home’ is offering visitors the chance to celebrate his big day with them. The wedding of HRH Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will take place on Saturday 19 May and Scotland’s Best Visitor Attraction, The Royal Yacht Britannia, where Prince Harry spent his childhood summer holidays, is marking the much anticipated…

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Prepare for a scare with the Cramond Killer

Bloody-curdling horrors are being brought to life with the latest technology in the heart of Scotland’s capital. The Edinburgh Dungeon has today launched its first-ever VR experience, inspired by the real-life story of the execution and public dissection of John Howison, a 19th century Edinburgh murderer more commonly known as the Cramond Killer. Not for…

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Scottish fiddler Sarah-Jane is a fine Solo performer

A Scottish fiddler who is now based in Norway has released a new album. Sarah-Jane Summers’ Solo features the versatile, free-thinking, impassioned performer with her unique style blending the lyricism of traditional music with the emotive rawness of improvisation. A tradition-bearer of the old Highland style of fiddling, she was taught by the late, great…

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Inside the northernmost distillery

Aurora Spirit is the northernmost distillery in the world at 69.39°N. Set deep within the arctic circle the distillery and visitors centre is at Årøybukt in Lyngen, northern Norway, which during the Cold War was a NATO coastal fort. The distillery was built in 2015 and opened as a visitor attraction in summer 2016. The…

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Shetland Gin will mark Up Helly Aa 2018

The annual Up Helly Aa celebration in Shetland is just days away, and a new gin is being launched to mark the event. Shetland Distillery Company is launching the new Up Helly Aa gin at the Pop-up Food Market on Monday, 29 January. This year’s Up Helly Aa gin from the Shetland Distillery Company is…

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Winter warmers from Sud de France

Looking for a fireside glass this December? Peter Ranscombe explores wines filled with the warmth of the South of France. FEW wine-growing regions ooze sunshine like the South of France; every glass of red feels like it’s bursting with the sun’s warming rays, while each glass of white brings back memories of the lapping waves…

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