The Granite City is the inspiration for new ice cream

An ice cream that has been made to look like Aberdeen’s granite buildings has been created by Scotland’s luxury ice cream maker for a crime writing festival in the North East.  While local talents have been drafting up their dark stories for the city’s popular Granite Noir Festival, Mackie’s of Scotland has written up a new…

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Take The Floor host showcases his own music

Gary Innes is used to introducing other musical acts on BBC Radio Scotland’s Take The Floor – but today he releases his own album. Imminent is the latest release from the award-winning Scottish musician, featuring an impressive line-up of homegrown talent. An album packed full of self-penned tunes and songs, Imminent is a follow-up to…

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Rapper turned writer set for book festival event

Organisers of the Edinburgh International Book Festival have announced a special event next month. On Saturday 9 March, American author Angie Thomas presenting her much-anticipated follow-up to her bestselling novel The Hate U Give. The rapper-turned-writer’s incendiary novel about state violence against African Americans, inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement, sold millions worldwide and…

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Scotland to welcome Indian symphony orchestra

India’s first professional symphony orchestra is coming to Edinburgh next month.  Music lovers will be able to experience the finesse, the power and the iridescent colours of one of the world’s newest and most exciting orchestras at Edinburgh’s iconic Usher Hall. Founded in 2006, the Symphony Orchestra of India brings together exceptional players from across the Subcontinent…

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What’s the story for hotel’s bedtime book

A Scots hotel is encouraging young guests and aspiring writers to put pen to paper this National Storytelling Week (January 26 – February 3) in a bid to be published in its new bedtime storybook. Hallmark Hotel Glasgow strives to offer its guests personalised home comforts, is asking families with children aged between 6-15 years…

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NOTEBOOK – JANUARY 2019 – BURNS’ NIGHT SPECIAL

With The Bard’s birthday just around the corner, Peter Ranscombe raids his notebook to recommend some very special whiskies from recent tastings. WHISPER it, but you don’t need haggis to enjoy Burns’ night. Raising a dram in memory of Rabbie Burns, Scotland’s national bard, is an equally-fitting tribute to the poet who gave us the…

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Enjoy an exclusive night with pop queens Bananarama

One of the 80s biggest pop groups is back with a new album this year – and an exclusive gig in Glasgow. For the past three decades, Bananarama’s Sara Dallin and Keren Woodward have been one of pop’s most influential and revered groups. Their hit packed career happened because they were the mould-breakers. Sometimes reminders…

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Scotland can capitalise on wellness tourism trend

VisitScotland believes the country is ready to embrace the global trend known as wellness tourism. The national tourism organisation has dedicated its annual Trends paper, published on Sunday, 20 January,  to examining the ‘global consumer phenomena’, highlighting a range of micro-trends that can help visitors enhance and maintain their personal wellbeing. Valued globally at $639bn in…

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Lesley’s making a hue and cry in the world of art

It’s been nearly two decades since award-winning painter Lesley Birch swapped her keyboards for a canvas. Born in Glasgow and based in Scotland until her late 30s, Lesley was a full-time musician writing songs and touring as a session keyboards player for chart-topping band Hue & Cry. Nowadays, she paints from her studios in York…

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Julianne Moore’s pride in her strong Scottish roots

Most would never have been aware of Oscar-winning actress Julianne Moore’s Scottish heritage; a New York resident with that all-American pearly white smile, why would you think any differently? Yet it is also hard to miss that auburn hair and alabaster skin that glows across her sharp cheekbones. With close scrutiny, it is easy to…

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