The Guide to Scotland's Festivals 2014

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The Guide to

S ’ D N A L SCOT

S L A V I FEST 2014

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THE GUIDE TO SCOTLAND’S FESTIVALS 2014

FOREWORD

2014 is a big year for Scotland.

With Homecoming, the Commonwealth Games and the Ryder Cup, Scotland will spend much of 2014 in the international spotlight providing an unprecedented platform on which to showcase our arts and culture.

Particular to 2014 are Culture 2014 and Festival 2014, the major cultural programmes developed to accompany the Commonwealth Games. Consisting of a vibrant mix of grassroots celebrations and large scale projects across Scotland, the aim is for every community in Scotland to celebrate and benefit from this historic event.

Alongside the special events of this year, Scotland has a world-class selection of festivals on offer which you can read about in this publication. Newcomers include the John Muir Festival which takes place along the length of the John Muir Trail and will see community participation, artist-led events and largescale public performances come together to celebrate the life and legacy of this remarkable man.

Meanwhile the inaugural Findhorn Bay Arts Festival combines theatre, dance, literature, music and comedy, as well as events for families and young people, talks, tours and craft markets, creating a vibrant and dynamic programme of events.

Familiar and established festivals also continue to develop and grow. From smaller, community focussed festivals through to those of international acclaim, Scotland will leave you spoilt for choice as we welcome the world through our arts and culture.

Creative Scotland is delighted to support this publication, in partnership with EventScotland and VisitScotland, recognising the importance that festivals play in the cultural life of our country.

Janet Archer CEO of Creative Scotland

KNOCKENGORROCH WORLD CEILIDH The hills of Galloway come alive with the sound of world-class folk, dub, world and fusion music for one glorious May weekend. (See p39) knockengorroch.org.uk

BORDERS BOOK FESTIVAL As summer approaches, the Borders light up with a festival that always manages to attract big name authors and storytellers. (See p46) bordersbookfestival.org

HIPPODROME FESTIVAL OF SILENT CINEMA Fall belatedly in love with the stars of yesteryear at the newly restored Hippodrome. (See p29) falkirkcommunitytrust.org/silentcinemafest 4

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COUNTERFLOWS

ORKNEY FOLK FESTIVAL

Local and international talents working across Glasgow for a creative weekend, supported by London’s Cafe OTO and Cry Parrot. (See p31) counterflows.com

Orkney continues to provide residents and visitors with impressive homegrown and international folk talent. (See p39) orkneyfolkfestival.com

ALCHEMY

DANCELIVE

Three-day festival in the Borders with a 2014 theme of ‘Dreamland’, which focuses on the natural world as a place of exploration and dreams. (See p31) alchemyfilmfestival.org.uk

An energetic festival showcasing all manner of different dance styles, as well as workshops, classes and new choreography. (See p73) dancelive.org.uk

BEHAVIOUR

WEST END FESTIVAL

Exciting international stars, alongside their Scottish counterparts, make up The Arches’ annual championing of live performance. (See p28) thearches.co.uk

This is sure to add to the Commonwealth Games buzz, as Glasgow presents more than 400 music, theatre, arts and cultural events. (See p44) westendfestival.co.uk 5

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THE GUIDE TO SCOTLAND’S FESTIVALS 2014

Project Editor: Kirstyn Smith Production Manager: Simon Armin Designer: Lucy Munro Contributors: Jaclyn Arndt, Niki Boyle, Brian Donaldson, Mark Fisher, Claire Hoyda, Malcolm Jack, Alex Johnston, Hannah McGill, Rowena McIntosh, Joe McManus, Anna Millar, Henry Northmore, David Pollock, Murray Robertson, Keith Smith, Rhona Taylor Advertising: Sheri Friers, Chris Knox, Nicky Carter, Debbie Thomson Digital Director: Simon Dessain Publisher: Robin Hodge This guide was produced in conjunction with Creative Scotland, EventScotland and VisitScotland. The project managers within Creative Scotland were Bernie Regan and Nick Wong, with support from Kate Campbell and Aimée McAvoy of EventScotland.

INTRODUCING THIS GUIDE Scotland has never been shy about staging cultural events which attract visitors from far and wide. When it comes to festivals, the country leads the way, providing an inspiring programme throughout the year, with everything from tiny one-day shindigs to massive month-long bonanzas incorporating music, art, literature, theatre, food & drink and more.

In 2014 Glasgow plays host to the Commonwealth Games, so the country is going for gold with its festival coverage, many focussing on the Games’ themes.

To help you get your head around the offerings, The List, Scotland’s leading arts and entertainment guide, has rounded up each festival into this comprehensive overview to help you pick which to slot into 2014’s diary.

Listings begin on p24.

HOW TO USE THIS GUIDE

Published by The List Ltd HEAD OFFICE 14 High Street, Edinburgh EH1 1TE Tel: 0131 550 3050 Fax: 0131 557 8500 www.list.co.uk email festivals@list.co.uk © 2014 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 2014 Printed by Acorn Web Offset Ltd.

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Festivals are listed in date order. In cases where the exact date has not been decided at the time of going to press, they are listed alphabetically at the beginning of each month. Each entry includes an address and box-office phone number and/or website. All dates are for 2014.

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.

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bogbain farm. festival season starts in inverness

BrewDog’s Music Festival

Sat 3rd May

STANLEY ODD | KING CREOSOTE | RODDY WOOMBLE | PRIDES | KID CANAVERAL | WOODENBOX | MIAOUX MIAOUX | RANDOLPH’S LEAP | THE LITTLE KICKS | SHIVERIN’ SHEIKS | ROMAN NOSE | CASUAL SEX | JO MANGO | FAKE MAJOR | CALL TO MIND | FRIENDS IN AMERICA | ATOM TREE | FINDLAY NAPIER | KILL THE WAVES | BEERJACKET | CAMPFIRES IN WINTER | VERONA | SHAMBLES MILLER | FINN LE MARINEL | MISS IRENIE ROSE | HAVE MERCY LAS VEGAS | THIS SILENT FOREST | SKINNY DIPPERS | MACHINES IN HEAVEN | ELEPHANT SESSIONS | LIONEL | AND MORE TBA!

£35.00 | brewatthebog.com

Camping available from Friday til Sunday - bank holiday weekend!

Fri 30th May - Sun 1st June BLUE ROSE CODE | BELLA HARDY (BBC RADIO 2 FOLK AWARD NOMINEE)

| THE DIRTY BEGGARS | WILL POUND (BBC RADIO 2 FOLK AWARD NOMINEE) | THE HIGHLAND FOLK COLLECTIVE | AND MANY MORE

Venues throughout Inverness Prices vary | northernrootsfestival.com

bogbainfarm.com

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THE GUIDE TO SCOTLAND’S FESTIVALS 2014

FESTIVAL CHECKLIST 1

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CANBY STONE SUNGLASSES Do you want a pair of £5 shades that are gonna break in a week? Or do you want a pair of ultra-cool sunspecs made from actual stone?

Price: £213 Stockist: shwoodshop.com

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POP-UP WINE GLASS Watertight and fits in your pocket.

You may be in a grubby tent in a muddy field, but you do still have some class.

Price: £5 Stockist: amazon.co.uk

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RETRO ARCADE PONCHO For copyright reasons, we can’t describe this as a Pac-Man Poncho.

But that’s totally what it is.

Price: £4.99 Stockist: spinninghat.com

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WICKEDWEDGE Protect your bum from wet grass and improve your posture at the same time.

Double whammy.

Price: £14.95 Stockist: wickedwedge.co.uk

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Niki Boyle hunts down the most innovative bits and bobs designed to make the most of the festival experience

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WEATHERPRO APP Not especially glitzy, but that ubercool umbrella/ poncho combo won’t be useful all the time.

This is the most reliable way to find out when.

Price: £1.99 Stockist: iTunes

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SELF-INFLATING SEAT CUSHION Let’s face it: some venues are more swanky than others. These’ll cushion your tush when you’re in the less luxurious sites.

Price: £12.95 Stockist: betterlifehealthcare.com

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FLI-TUNES A rubberised Frisbee that doubles up as an iPod amplifier. Ideal for unwinding once the tent is pitched.

Price: £12.99 Stockist: amazon.co.uk

REVOLIGHTS The Commonwealth Games might inspire you to get a bit sporty yourself. These funky bike lights make getting back in the saddle a lot more fun.

Price: £144 plus shipping Stockist: revolights.com

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READY, STEADY, CREATE Interest in sporting endeavour is set to accelerate as the Commonwealth Games approaches. Mark Fisher sees Scotland’s cultural high-flyers supporting the event by flexing their own artistic muscles

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hose of us who were around at the time of the Edinburgh Commonwealth Games in 1986 will recall that, as well as all the displays of sporting prowess, the city played host to the Commonwealth Arts Festival. Programmed by Assembly’s William Burdett-Coutts, it featured everything from an exhibition of textiles to a company from Botswana doing an Athol Fugard play.

Now Glasgow is in the cultural spotlight as it runs two arts programmes to capitalise on its own ten-day sporting spectacular. The first is Culture 2014, a national celebration involving dance, theatre, music and arts, counting down to the 2014 Games. The second is Festival 2014 which takes place on the streets and stages of Glasgow from 19 July to 3 August while the games are in full flow. The two programmes reflect the cross-artform energy that characterises modern-day Scotland, much like the Jim Lambie-designed logos that are part Barrowland Ballroom and part explosion of pop-art colour.

Already getting their vocal chords warmed up are the performers of Big Big Sing who will be appearing in their thousands on stages around Glasgow in July with newly written songs and guest vocalists. Choirs from all over Scotland will be involved and, to keep it international, they’ll be forming a Commonwealth choir online. Find out more at bigbigsing.org or, if you’re more physically inclined, check out the similar plans for Get Scotland Dancing at getscotlanddancing.org

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Also thinking globally is Perch, an aerial theatre collaboration between Glasgow’s Conflux, Australia’s Legs on the Wall and Brazil’s Lume Teatro. It will take place high above our heads in each of the three countries, bolstered by choirs, community participants and an orchestra playing a score by Stephen Deazley.

Building on the cross-artform success of Whatever Gets You Through the Night and Glasgow Girls, director Cora Bissett is taking the life of bagpiper Martyn Bennett as inspiration for Grit. Written by Kieran Hurley and drawing on the talents of Cirque du Soleil’s Andrew Watson, the site-specific show will play in Glasgow’s Tramway and on Mull in June.

Taking inspiration from the London Olympics-based sitcom, 2012, Glasgow’s Random Accomplice is designing its own satirical soap opera called News Just In. Run by the talented Johnny McKnight and Julie Brown, the company will be mixing up live theatre and filmed news reports in a constantly evolving send-up of behind-the-scenes chaos set in a fictional Glasgow 2014 media office.

There’ll be more laughter when Janey Godley and her daughter Ashley Storrie take to the road in Journeys to Glasgow, a nationwide stand-up adventure.

For the under 4s, the inventive Katy Wilson is working with Starcatchers to build Blue Block Studio, an interactive pop-up space where there’ll be creative-play sessions and storytelling based on Who’s Calling? by Kenya’s Charity Waciuma. It’ll tour across Scotland, as will the LIST.CO.UK/FESTIVALS

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Perch

tireless actor Tam Dean Burn who is planning not only to read every one of Julia Donaldson’s 167 books as he travels from school to school, but also to cycle the whole route. In this way, his Julia Donaldson Cycling Marathon will be as much of an athletic achievement as anything in the games.

Already grabbing the headlines is Generation, an exhibition celebrating 25 years of contemporary art in Scotland. Featuring over 100 artists, including Christine Borland, Martin Boyce and David Shrigley, it will be seen in over 60 galleries between March and November.

There will also be an international programme

mounted by the David Dale Gallery, while artist Ruth Ewan will be working with local people to create an outdoor play area in Making the Most of Dalmarnock.

All this is just the tip of the iceberg. Look out too for the New Music Biennial on 2 and 3 August, showcasing 20 commissions by artists including Lau, Andy Scott & Lemn Sissay and Mary Ann Kennedy. There will also be work by Scottish Opera, Louise Welsh, Claire Cunningham, Aidan Moffat, filmmaker Paul Fegan, Janice Parker, artist Phil Collins, the Scottish Poetry Library, the Citizens Theatre and Barrowland Ballet. On your marks . . .

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FILM RIGHTS We should be shouting from our rooftops about the Scottish movie landscape says Hannah McGill as she pores over a feast of film festivals from Berwick to Shetland

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hen it comes to Scottish cinema culture, press noise tends to focus on what’s not happening here, what’s not getting funded, and what’s not – allegedly – as good as it used to be.

But hang the naysayers, and let’s accentuate the positive. Residents of this most cinephile end of the UK should take a moment to appreciate the fact that they occupy a singularly rich film culture, of which a magnificent flourishing of annual festivals is but one manifestation. And those that have not yet experienced any of the festivals should make a date in their diary for at least one this year.

The granddaddy is, of course, the Edinburgh International Film Festival in June. Under the stewardship of artistic director Chris Fujiwara, the event is a repository of interestinglytextured and important arthouse cinema from around the globe, as well as the odd mainstream preview and red carpet star-spot. The Glasgow Film Festival makes its presence felt boldly in February, casting its net wide to select prime titles from autumn and winter events like Venice, Toronto and London, including some major awards contenders.

March ushers in the Festival of Silent Cinema at the gorgeously restored Hippodrome picture palace in Bo’ness. The following month, you can find your horror fix at Filmhouse’s iconic Dead by Dawn (incorporating, for the truly hardcore, the all-night session Spawn of Dawn).

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For those of an artier bent there’s Alchemy in Hawick, shifting its celebration of experimental work and artist film and video from an autumn slot to April.

The independent Deep Fried Film Festival takes place in Lanarkshire during August, while if you’d like some midnight sun and exalted company, you could head far north for Shetland’s Screenplay festival, programmed by the great Mark Kermode and his wife and fellow critic Linda Ruth Williams.

September also sees the Berwick Film and Media Arts Festival light up the Borders.

October is busy, with the excellent Scottish Mental Health Arts and Film Festival (see panel on page 76), taking place across Scotland and challenging our perception of mental health.

If you’d like to encourage any small people who live in your house to appreciate screens bigger than the one on their Nintendo, get them to Dundee’s Discovery, a wide-ranging film festival for young people. At the other end of the age range comes Luminate, the new festival dedicated to older people, which will mount its second edition in October.

November sees Dundee Mountain Film Festival. Year-round there are also numerous travelling events to keep in mind, including world-class festivals of Italian and French cinema, visiting various locations throughout Scotland in April and November respectively.

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BEHAVIOUR The Arches’ festival of live performance

Bryony Kimmings Adrian Howells/Constantine Bock Alan Bissett Neil Hannon (Divine Comedy) Platform 18 National Theatre of Scotland Milo Rau Sam Halmerack & The Miserablites Rosana & Amy Cade Sh!t Theatre Silvia Gallerano/Cristian Ceresoli Untitled Projects Martin O’Connor Dark Behaviour Gary Gardiner/Murray Wason

TRADEFEST 1/2V

Glasgow: Spring 2014 www.thearches.co.uk

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Rowing champion Katherine Grainger talks to Anna Millar about Olympic glory and her hopes for the Glasgow Commonwealth Games

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lasgow’s Katherine Grainger doesn’t do small. From her gold-tinted rowing triumph at the 2012 London Olympics to the completion of her recent autobiography and her ongoing personal achievements (as CBE recipient and Law PhD bagger, to name but two), Team GB’s finest rower knows a little something about events on a gargantuan scale.

‘There was a huge amount of doubt about the London Olympics, which is a very British thing: that sense of “I don’t know if we can do it well”,’ smiles Grainger between a flurry of awards dinners and motivational speaking gigs.

‘But it was this huge success that no one could have imagined. It went beyond being just about the sports and really showed the potential of what such a large scale event can do in terms of global reach and creating a real sense of community closer to home.’

As a Glaswegian born and bred, Grainger is equally animated about the potential rewards for the city when the Commonwealth Games set up stall. Tickets for the 17 sports on offer have been in high demand from locals and visitors alike, and a bumper community and cultural programme is blossoming around the event.

‘I haven’t made any plans yet but if I have no other commitments, I’ll try and catch as much as possible. I’m a sucker for all sports and I think the atmosphere will be infectious. Events like the Olympics are momentous occasions: it’s very dramatic and has a huge human interest aspect. People just fell in love with it. You couldn’t have guaranteed that it would chime with people but a year and a half on, it still does.’

Based on her incredible experiences in London, Grainger believes Glasgow’s landscape has limitless possibilities: ‘The culture we live in can be very superficial, but the advantage of any sort of home games is that there’s so much space to tell the stories. People who have never been on a boat can still relate to my story

because it’s about dreams and human ambition: there’s something very special about that.’

Grainger watched Glasgow evolve as a city in her teens with events like the Glasgow Garden Festival, the Glasgow’s Miles Better campaign and the Year of Culture in 1990, planting the roots of what Glasgow would become. ‘The city has such an important place in my heart. It has such a pride in itself, and whatever the event, people really want to show it off in all its glory.

The Games will be great and hopefully people will really come in and enjoy the city too, from the music scene to its shops to its history.’

Grainger’s own journey to date has found its way into book form with the publication, in 2013, of her autobiography, Katherine Grainger: Dreams Do Come True. The rower happily admits she’s enjoyed indulging in another side of the festival scene with her recent appearances at literary events to promote her tome. ‘It was just a lovely thing to go to places with these amazing authors and step into another world. Scotland has such a diverse array of culture.’

The daughter of Glasgow teachers, it was Grainger’s time at Edinburgh University that fuelled her rowing ambitions, and introduced her to another love, namely the Edinburgh festivals. ‘I don’t have a lot of spare time these days, as I’m often rowing in the middle of summer, but I have a massive soft spot for Edinburgh in August. It really is just the most wonderfully insane, life-enriching place to go.

There are all these theatre productions, standups, and just the most incredible opportunity for new experiences. Mum and dad live in Edinburgh now, so I get to experience what that city has to offer with them, as well as still having a firm place in my heart for Glasgow with all its theatres, museums and concerts too.

I’ve been very lucky to be able to see the best of what the cities have to offer, and it’s lovely to think that other people can too.’

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EAT, DRINK AND BE MERRY Often just a part of festival life, Scotland’s food and drink is worth celebrating on its own merits. Keith Smith rounds up some lesser-known events dedicated to the pleasure of eating and drinking

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e Scots love a good festival. Yet the crucial elements that fuel those festivities – our national food and drink – can sometimes be overlooked. Fed by a growing interest in what we put on our plates and in our glasses, coupled with a renewed appreciation of what Scotland’s natural larder has to offer, food and drink is

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now an integral part of the country’s festival culture. From large events like 2014 newcomer Eat, Drink, Discover Scotland to smaller, niche affairs such as Kingussie’s Food on Film, we’re increasingly acknowledging that there’s plenty to celebrate, whether it’s grown, reared, caught or produced. Let us rejoice.

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INVERNESS WHISKY FESTIVAL

Established in 2011, the Inverness Whisky Festival is a celebration of everything to do with the culture of whisky, whether it’s food, fashion, music, history or simply just the amber nectar itself. Held at Bogbain Farm, the main draw is the whisky exhibition, complete with guided samplings and tasty Scottish grub. There have been a number of side events in previous years too, such as an alternative whisky tour of the city, a rare malt auction and expert masterclasses.

■ 4–5 Apr, invernesswhiskyfestival. com

ABERDEEN AND NORTH EAST BEER FESTIVAL

Organised by the Campaign for Real Ale, this beer festival has been a fixture on Aberdeen’s food and drink scene for almost 30 years, and attracts visitors from Scandinavia, Europe and the US, many of whom return year on year. Also known as ‘the Great Grampian’, the event now stretches across three days and showcases more than 100 of the best ales, porters and pilsners that the UK, and Scotland in particular, has to offer. Patrons can also sample a variety of traditional ciders, perries and barley wines.

■ 29–31 May, aberdeencamra. co.uk

CRAIL FOOD FEST

This particular festival does its best to involve the entire community of the tiny East Neuk village. A food trail allows the weekend’s 2000odd visitors to explore Crail’s

food and drink businesses, while local organisations get in on the act too, rustling up their own baking and goodies.

That complements the more conventional activities, which include demonstrations and tutored tastings at the cookery theatre as well as an indoor market and harbour-side stalls featuring a host of Fife’s producers and suppliers.

■ 14–15 Jun, crailfoodfest.co.uk

TARBERT SEA FOOD FESTIVAL

Given its prime location on the shores of Loch Fyne, it’s no surprise that Tarbert plays host to a specialist seafood festival. Harbour Street is the hub, where you can sample all manner of local delicacies, and there’s a parade culminating in the crowning of the Seafood Queen on the Sunday. Keep an eye out for the Spanish truck drivers too; they spend most of the year transporting Tarbert’s seafood back home to their compatriots, but return to show appreciation by cooking their own specialty – paella.

local chefs and guest celebrity stars, such as The Great British Bake-Off’s Paul Hollywood, all punctuated by performances from local musicians.

■ 5–7 Sep, dundeeflowerandfoodfestival.com

HUNTLY HAIRST

Originally part of the town’s Hallowe’en festivities, the Hairst (‘harvest’ for those of you that dinna spik the Doric) was brought forward in recent years, becoming its own distinct entity honouring the area’s food and farming heritage. Highlights include a souped-up version of the regular Farmers Market boasting more than 50 stalls packed with north-east produce, a mini beer festival and plenty of displays and demonstrations. There’s a keen competitive edge to things too: alongside the official World Stovies Championship, there are prizes for everything from cupcake-baking to pigeonplucking.

■ 6–7 Sep, huntlyhairst.co.uk

■ 5–6 Jul, tarbertfestivals.co.uk

ST ANDREWS FOOD AND DRINK FESTIVAL

DUNDEE FLOWER AND FOOD FESTIVAL

This St Andrews-based festival is actually a month-long series of events and activities, concluding in a three-day gala to mark the St Andrew’s Day weekend at the end of November. Naturally, eating plays a big part in proceedings, with around 30 different establishments (including a few pop-up venues) across the town rustling up special menus and dishes showcasing Fife’s finest produce

Host of both the World Potato Championships and the World Jampionship, this annual festival, run by Dundee City Council, has a strong horticultural focus and is as much about the practice of growing your own foodstuffs as it is exploring what’s produced in the region. Lectures and discussions with gardening experts share the bill with demonstrations from noted

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HOMECOMING SCOTLAND | HIGHLIGHT EVENTS 2014 A fusion of wild and ccultural events show h how Orkney’s people and w wildlife go hand in hand tto create something very sspecial. o orkneynaturefestival. o org

A YEAR OF BRILLIANT MOMENTS This year, Scotland welcomes the world and you’re invited to the party! Packed with brilliant moments, the Year of Homecoming will serve up a fantastic mix of events and festivals that celebrates the very best of Scotland: our breathtaking scenery, our mouth-watering food and drink, as well as our rich culture, creativity and ancestral heritage. Scotland will also play host to the the XX Commonwealth Games and the Ryder Cup in this exciting year! From the world’s Biggest Burns Night celebration to a tribute to three centuries of world-class engineering at the Forth Bridges Festival, wherever you visit, be inspired to create some of your own brilliant moments. Throughout the year and across the country, you’ll be very welcome so join us and be part of Homecoming Scotland 2014!

Big Burns Supper 25–27 Jan This creative, community performance project will reignite the spirit of Homecoming on Burns Night with an original soundtrack, giant puppetry and a host of colourful characters all trying to get home in time for the parade. bigburnssupper.com Seasoned to Taste 14–30 Apr Explore Scotland’s diverse food and drink

as restaurants and bars come together to celebrate the best of the area’s fayre, set against the sprawling farmland, natural landscapes and volcanic backdrop of the Campsie Fells.

to Speyside. A packed programme of activity will showcase the very best of Scotland’s food and drink and feature the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival (1–5 May). spiritofspeyside.com

Whisky Month 1–31 May This month-long celebration of Scotland’s national drink will take in whisky festivals and events across the country from the Highlands to the Isles, the Lowlands

Orkney Nature Festival 10–18 May Presenting ‘Orkney Whisky’s Wild Side’.

Orkney’s exceptional whiskies originate in Scotland’s heathery hills and pure lochs.

Y Year of Ancient A Ancestors 1 15 May–25 Oct TThis festival will showcase tthe Pictish and Norse h heritage of Caithness tthrough the year from P Pictish storytelling tto Viking battle ree enactments, concluding w with the Viking Vetrarblot Feast featuring ‘Viking’ food, drink and entertainment. caithnesshorizons.co.uk TweedLove Bike Festival 24 May–8 Jun Held every year in the beautiful Tweed Valley, TweedLove is the UK’s fastest growing cycling festival. With an amazing network of historic paths and quiet country roads, the area welcomes thousands of riders for a programme of races, rides and social events. tweedlove.com Return to the Ridings 1 Jun–30 Aug The Borders Common Ridings are a manifestation of centuries old tradition, civic pride and stunning spectacle unique to the area. These festivals celebrate the area’s history, music and song, culminating in the whole town celebrating the ‘Riding’. returntotheridings. co.uk

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HIGHLIGHT EVENTS 2014 | HOMECOMING SCOTLAND Hopetoun Town & Country Fair 26–29 Jun Featuring Hopetoun International Horse Trials and the Commonwealth Cup, this event offers visitors international sporting excellence, live entertainment, fine foods and country pursuits all set within the stunning grounds of Hopetoun House near Edinburgh. hopetoun.co.uk East Neuk Festival 27 Jun–7 Jul The festival presents its biggest ever programme, drawing international artists to this beautiful coastal spot, bringing music, family activities, writing, opera and installations. eastneukfestival.com Aboyne Highland Games 2 Aug Join clansmen and women from across the globe heading to the village green where the games have been held since 1867. Heavy athletes will compete in the traditional disciplines alongside tug of war, piping, dancing and an International Fiddle Competition. aboynegames.com Harris Tweed Hebrides Tattoo 8–9 Aug Beneath the beautiful Lews Castles, the Tattoo begins with performances

from nine pipe bands from Canada, the Highlands, the Islands and beyond alongside dancers, a horse parade and Gaelic choirs.

Saturday will be carnival day in Stornoway and a grand concert at the new Lochside Arena will conclude the celebrations. stornowayamenitytrust. co.uk The Edinburgh Mela 29–31 Aug Scotland’s leading multicultural performing arts festival is dedicated to the rich cultural

heritage of the communities that have chosen to make Scotland their home. Thousands of people are expected to enjoy performances from around the world. edinburgh-mela.co.uk Highland Homecoming 1 Sep–31 Oct Highland Homecoming is a month-long celebration of the very best in Highland culture, beginning with the Inverness Highland Meeting and culminating with Mòd Nàiseanta Rìoghail–The Royal National Mòd. Traditional

BANNOCKBURN LIVE! Stand shoulder to shoulder with medieval warriors, clans and families at Bannockburn Live (28–30 Jun), commemorating the 700th anniversary of the battle of Bannockburn. An impressive battle re-enactment will take place alongside themed villages as part of a weekend of activity for all the family. battleofbannockburn.com

and contemporary activities will take place throughout the Highland Capital. clans2014.com Forth Bridges Festival 4–13 Sep Celebrating one of Scotland’s iconic landmarks, the Festival will commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Forth Road Bridge with a week-long programme of events around South Queensferry and on the bridge itself. forthbridgesfestival.com D Doors Open Days 6 6–28 Sep P Popular amongst locals a and wily tourists, every S September this event g grants free access to p places normally off limits tto the public, and all ffor free! In 2014 more tthan 1000 sites will open rranging from a grand sstately pile to an ancient ccave and the homes of iiconic Scottish brands iincluding distilleries and ssporting grounds. d doorsopendays.org.uk The Ryder Cup Gala Concert 24 Sep A once in a lifetime concert will celebrate the very best in Scotland’s music, film, fashion and culture on a global stage, a fitting opening to one of the world’s biggest sporting events, the Ryder Cup at Gleneagles.

All event details are subject to change, please check websites for dates and locations of these events.

For full event listings and for more information about Homecoming Scotland 2014 please visit homecomingscotland.com #homecoming2014 21

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SPORT | HIGHLIGHT EVENTS 2014 Commonwealth Games, and the opportunity to spot future stars! swimming.org IRB Sevens 3–4 May The HSBC Sevens Festival will take place at the newly revamped Scotstoun Stadium, an official venue for Glasgow 2014. The event is an amazing feast of rugby sevens with a carnival atmosphere.

Leading nations Australia, Fiji, New Zealand and South Africa will compete in 44 matches over two days. irbsevens.com

SCOTLAND WELCOMES THE RYDER CUP In 2014 The PGA® Centenary Course at Gleneagles will be the setting for one of the biggest sporting events in the world from 23–28 Sept. It will be the first time in more than 40 years that this tournament has been staged in Scotland, The Home of Golf. Scotland last played host to the event in 1973, when America beat Great Britain & Ireland at Muirfield. Today The Ryder Cup is regarded as one of the biggest events on the sporting calendar meaning the eyes of the golfing world will be on Gleneagles in 2014. Scotland will also host a number of other top class golfing events throughout the year. Royal Aberdeen will stage a main European Tour event for the first time when it hosts the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open (10–13 Jul). The stars of the future will be on show at the Scottish Hydro Challenge at Spey Valley near Aviemore (26–29 Jun) and at the SSE Scottish Seniors at Fairmont St Andrews in August (date TBC). The ladies will also get their chance to shine at the Aberdeen Asset Management Ladies Scottish Open (date and venue TBC). rydercup2014.com British Swimming Championships 10–15 Apr Competition will take place at the newly refurbished Tollcross International Swimming Centre. The

Championships are the epitome of high performance swimming, creating a platform for outstanding results including selection for the Glasgow 2014

UCI Mountain Bike World Cup 6–8 Jun This award-winning event regularly sees tens of thousands of passionate fans descend on Fort William. Alongside thrilling world-class Downhill and 4-Cross biking action, the World Cup Village creates a family-friendly atmosphere with activities and entertainment to keep everyone captivated the whole weekend. fortwilliamworldcup. co.uk The Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games 23 Jul–3 Aug The Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games will see over 6,500 athletes compete in 17 different sports over 11 days of competition. World class athletes will compete for team glory and national pride at one of the world’s most significant sporting events. glasgow2014.com

Blair Castle International Horse Trials and Country Fair 21–24 Aug Scotland’s leading equestrian event features International Show Jumping, Highland Pony and Clydesdale Championships and much more, as well as 200 retail and food stands, all set within the stunning grounds of Blair Castle, the host venue for the FEI European Eventing Championships in 2015. blairhorsetrials.co.uk Baxters Loch Ness Marathon and Festival of Running 28 Sep Now in its 12th year, this annual test of endurance includes the marathon, 10k, 5k and Wee Nessie races plus a food and drink fayre. As part of Homecoming Scotland 2014, competitors will be encouraged to sport some tartan and visitors can enjoy whisky tastings and activities showcasing Scotland’s national drink. lochnessmarathon.com Glasgow Gymnastics World Cup 1 Dec The top 8 male and female artistic gymnasts in the world are invited to compete at this event, one of 10 World Cup events. Britain’s finest artistic gymnasts will take on the world’s best at the spectacular Emirates Arena, the venue for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games badminton competition. british-gymnastics.org

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HIGHLIGHT EVENTS 2014 | MTV EMA AND GENERATION

PHOTO © NEALE SMITH

GET READY, GLASGOW! The 2014 MTV EMA will be hosted at The SSE Hydro this November. MTV’s global awards show will be held for the first time in Glasgow, showcasing the world’s hottest musical acts.

Past EMA performers include iconic artists from the worlds of hip hop, rock and pop including Beyoncé, Katy Perry, U2, Coldplay and, at e Amsterdam in 2013, Eminem, Miley Cyrus and The Killers. Created to honour the music and artists that fans love, the MTV EMA has taken place in a m different city each year since 1994, travelling from Berlin to Paris, London, Liverpool and throughout Europe. mtvema.com

25 YEARS OF ART IN SCOTLAND Taking place between March and November, GENERATION is an ambitious and extensive programme featuring more than 100 artists and occupying over 60 exhibition spaces and venues the length and breadth of Scotland, with many exhibitions taking place as part of the Glasgow 2014 Cultural Programme. Featured artists will include Karla Black, Christine Borland, Richard Wright, Callum Innes and many more.

GENERATION will be one of the most ambitious celebrations of contemporary art ever held by a single nation and aims to inspire a new audience. The programme will feature seminal pieces from landmark exhibitions, new works and commissions and bring work to spaces up and down Scotland.

From a major retrospective of Zoë Walker and Neil Bromwich at The Pier Arts Centre in Orkney to an installation by Dalziel + Scullion staged in Stornoway and Dovecot Studios in Edinburgh as well as works which have never been shown before in Scotland such as works by the artists presented at Scotland + Venice 2013 during the Venice Biennale. Over the past 25 years Scotland has become an international destination for visual art and in 2015 Glasgow will become the first Scottish city to host the Turner Prize. generationartscotland.org 23

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THE GUIDE TO SCOTLAND’S FESTIVALS 2014

JANUARY 1 JANUARY–31 AUGUST

CULTURE 2014 MULTI-ARTS Various venues: Glasgow, glasgow2014.com/culture

CELTIC CONNECTIONS

A national celebration counting down to the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Culture 2014 showcases dance, theatre, music, visual arts, comedy and so much more in the run up to the Games. Highlights include Get Dancing (free classes in a variety of styles), Journeys to Glasgow (Janey Godley’s bus tours celebrating the nation’s comedy storytelling abilities) and Big Big Sing which encourages thousands of people to get singing in the lead up to, and during, Games time. Everyone’s invited! See feature, p10.

Folk, country and rock to banish the winter blues 3–16 JANUARY Always a reason to be cheerful going into a new year, Celtic Connections is the perfect antidote to those January chills. The traditional annual arts calendar curtain-raiser kicks the Glasgow and Scottish music scene out of its mid-winter slumber with a buzzing multi-venue schedule. There are concerts and events by a diverse swathe of local, national and international players, each of them inspired by or finding common ground with Scottish roots music in its many different forms.

Increasingly popular year-upon-year, the festival brings in visitors to Glasgow from all over the world – especially Europe and North America – during an otherwise low ebb for tourism. In 2013 more than 100,000 people attended Celtic Connections events with revenues topping £1m.

The 21st instalment – again programmed by artistic director Donald Shaw, a member of highly successful Scottish traditional music group Capercaillie – will be the biggest yet, with 300 events at 20 venues, from unique collaborations to intuitively mixed bills to suit all ages and tastes.

The SSE Hydro arena will see 1980s Scotrock legends Del Amitri take to the city’s newest and biggest stage for their first UK show in over a decade, while Elizabeth ‘Downton Abbey’ McGovern fronts Sadie & the Hotheads. Elsewhere be sure not to miss veteran soul belter Bobby Womack, post-rock perennials Mogwai previewing their new album Rave Tapes, alt.folk queen Suzanne Vega, virtuoso Mercury nominee Seth Lakeman and Dublin’s Imelda May among countless others. (Malcolm Jack) ■ Various venues, Glasgow, 16 Jan–2 Feb, celticconnections.com 24

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NEW YEAR’S REVOLUTION MUSIC King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut, 272a St Vincent Street, Glasgow, kingtuts.co.uk

Now in its fourth year King Tut’s New Year’s Revolution starts 2014 with a line-up of acts making waves in the Scottish music scene.

10–12 JANUARY

SOUND THOUGHT MULTI-ARTS CCA, 350 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow, soundthought.co.uk

Postgraduate students from Glasgow Uni take the reins on this music festival that blends performances with academic inquiry, including new compositions, early music performances, sound art, research papers and audio/ visual works.

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30 JANUARY–2 FEBRUARY

BURNSFEST

FOOD ON FILM

MULTI-ARTS Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, Edinburgh, tracscotland.org/ scottish-storytelling-centre

FILM & TV / FOOD & DRINK / FAMILY Various venues: Kingussie, info@kingussiefoodonfilm.co.uk, kingussiefoodonfilm.co.uk

A programme of events based around the works of Oor Rabbie, including storytelling, theatre, exhibitions and a ceilidh.

The culinary meets the audiovisual in this interdisciplinary festival that seeks to titillate eyes and tastebuds alike.

ANNE BURGESS (CC BY-SA)

15 JANUARY–1 FEBRUARY

16 JANUARY–2 FEBRUARY

CELTIC CONNECTIONS

30 JANUARY-14 FEBRUARY

MUSIC Various venues: Glasgow, celticconnections.com

BANFF MOUNTAIN FILM FESTIVAL

See panel, p24.

24–26 JANUARY

BIG BURNS SUPPER MULTI-ARTS Spiegeltent, Rabbie Burns Spiegelgarden, Old Market, Brewery Street, Dumfries, bigburnssupper.com

Stars from across the country congregate as the town of Dumfries celebrates the birth of the Baird with a vast selection of dance, theatre, visual arts, live art and comedy, turning Burns’ Night into a festival of contemporary arts.

27 JANUARY–5 FEBRUARY

FIFE FESTIVAL OF MUSIC MUSIC Various venues: Fife, enquiries@ffom.org.uk, ffom.org.uk

Performers at this community festival range from primary school children to adults, in both vocal and instrumental classes, competitive and noncompetitive.

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

A collection of films selected as the best of their kind at this prestigious mountain festival.

The films cover feats of skiing, climbing, white water rafting, extreme mountain biking and many more daredevil activities from across the globe.

31 JANUARY–8 FEBRUARY

MANIPULATE VISUAL THEATRE FESTIVAL FILM & TV / THEATRE & DANCE Various venues: Edinburgh, info@puppetanimation.org, manipulatefestival.org

Puppet Animation Scotland collates a collection of world class animation and puppetry and related performing arts of all styles and techniques and through its master classes also provides learning opportunities.

FEBRUARY

28 JANUARY

1 FEBRUARY–1 MARCH

UP HELLY AA

FEBRUARYFEST

HERITAGE Lerwick, Shetland, information@uphellyaa.org, uphellyaa. org

FOOD & DRINK Clachaig Inn, Glencoe, glencoescotland.com/whatson/ februaryfest-2014

See panel, right.

Running for more than 20

SPOTLIGHT ON . . .

UP HELLY AA Spectacular fire celebration Scotland has a rich tradition of burning stuff on special occasions, often in honour of its pagan ancestry. Shetland’s Up Helly Aa is arguably the most spectacular fire celebration of the lot – an annual January ritual invoking the northern island’s Viking past, featuring masked ‘guisers’ carrying flaming torches marching through Lerwick before incinerating a specially-constructed wooden galley ship.

For all that Up Helly Aa remembers a time when Shetland was ruled by beardy marauders from across the North Sea, it’s actually a relatively modern event, dating back to the 1880s when the yuletide tradition of rolling burning barrels of tar down Lerwick high street was organised into a more formal and health-and-safetyconscious practice. Hundreds of marchers arranged into squads take part, dressed in themed costumes and led by a senior Jarl guiser, before breaking off into song and dance parties lasting late into the night. (Malcolm Jack) ■ Lerwick, Shetland, 28 Jan, uphellyaa.org 25

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2–12 FEBRUARY

glasgowfilm.org/festival Screenings, talks and workshops celebrating a diverse range of local, international and upcoming talent.

GLASGOW YOUTH FILM FESTIVAL

14–23 FEBRUARY

years FebruaryFest brings a whole month of the best beer Scotland’s brewers have to offer to thirsty drinkers.

FILM & TV Various venues: Glasgow, glasgowfilmfestival.org.uk/youth

Innovative festival for young audiences featuring premieres, screenings, events and special guest speakers.

6–16 FEBRUARY

ELECTRIC GLEN

SPOTLIGHT ON . . .

ELECTRIC GLEN

OUTDOOR Rouken Glen Park, Rouken Glen Road, Giffnock, electricglen.co.uk

Family fun with lights

See panel, left.

Bringing a bit of fantasia to East Renfrewshire in late winter, Electric Glen Lighting Festival returns for its second year to present a walk through the landscape of Rouken Glen Park, incorporating quirky light installations, street theatre and interactive events. Using a new route this year, the festival makes a feature of the park’s waterfall and ornamental boating pond, and there will be a family fun trail which highlights the park’s history.

Other family activities include Splosh, which will make throwing stones into the water a truly magical experience, while there will also be a new twist on the sport of curling. The walking route will take around an hour to complete, and is entered at 20-minute time slots between the hours of 5.30pm and 8.30pm. (David Pollock) ■ Rouken Glen Park, East Renfrewshire, 6–9 & 13–16 Feb, electricglen.co.uk

7–9 FEBRUARY

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WINTER WORDS FESTIVAL LITERATURE Pitlochry Festival Theatre, Port Na Craig, Pitlochry, pitlochry.org.uk

The tenth Winter Words Festival returns with a heavy emphasis on some momentous events in the coming year including the Commonwealth Games, the Ryder Cup, the referendum on independence and the 700th anniversary of the Battle of Bannockburn.

FIFE JAZZ FESTIVAL

14–16 FEBRUARY

MUSIC Various venues: Fife, fifejazzfestival.com

EDINBURGH MOUNTAIN FILM FESTIVAL

Fife Jazz Festival covers all the bases: from traditional to avant-garde, from international productions to homespun community events, from the biggest names in jazz to newcomers.

FILM & TV George Square Lecture Theatre, George Square, Edinburgh, stevie@emff. co.uk, emff.co.uk

12–16 FEBRUARY

SNOWDROPS BY STARLIGHT FAMILY / OUTDOOR Cambo Estate, Cambo House, Kingsbarns, St Andrews, snowdropsbystarlight.com

Cambo Estate’s endless woodlands are opened up each year to reveal the magic of their many snowdrops, enhanced by a natural art installation with lighting and sound effects.

13–16 FEBRUARY

GLASGOW SHORT FILM FESTIVAL FILM & TV Various venues: Glasgow,

Films focusing on adventure of all kinds: mountaineering, skiing, snowboarding, BASEjumping, mountain biking, kayaking and exploration are among some of the adrenaline-pumping activities represented.

15–22 FEBRUARY

PAPAY GYRO NIGHTS MULTI-ARTS Papa Westray, Orkney, papaygyronights@ papawestray.org, papaygyro nights.papawestray.org

Experimental film and video art, installation, performance, visual arts and architecture with the aim of mediating between new media and ideas and traditions and ritual.

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THE GUIDE TO SCOTLAND’S FESTIVALS 2014

15–23 FEBRUARY

MARCH, DATES TBC

5–9 MARCH

WINTERWEEK

ULLAPOOL DANCE FESTIVAL

STANZA: SCOTLAND’S POETRY FESTIVAL

THEATRE & DANCE Various venues: Ullapool, ullapooldance@yahoo.co.uk, ullapooldancefestival.org

LITERATURE Various venues: St Andrews, 01334 475000, stanzapoetry.org

Dance festival with classes for all ages and abilities and performances for all the family to enjoy.

See panel, p29.

1–24 MARCH

MUSIC Various venues: Glasgow, glasgowstpatricksfestival.co.uk

MULTI-ARTS Various venues: Kenmore, warmwelcome@winterweek. co.uk, winterweek.co.uk

A series of events in and around Kenmore to brighten up the dreich days of February.

19–23 FEBRUARY

FORT WILLIAM MOUNTAIN FESTIVAL FILM & TV Nevis Centre, An Aird, Fort William, info@mountain festival.co.uk, mountainfestival.co.uk

A series of films and lectures celebrating the great outdoors and mountain culture, held in Scotland’s outdoor capital, and spread over five nights.

DUNDEE WOMEN’S FESTIVAL MULTI-ARTS Various venues: Dundee, Dundee, d-v-a.org.uk

Celebrating International Women’s Day (8 Mar) with almost three weeks of events, drama, discussions and workshops.

1–28 MARCH

20 FEBRUARY–2 MARCH

GLASGOW FILM FESTIVAL FILM & TV Various venues: Glasgow, seonaid.daly@glasgowfilm. org, glasgowfilm.org/festival

Scotland’s fastest growing film festival has taken less than ten years to turn itself into a force to be reckoned with in the film festival world.

MARCH MARCH, DATES TBC

BEHAVIOUR THEATRE & DANCE The Arches, 253 Argyle Street, Glasgow, thearches.co.uk

The Arches continues its quest to support the hottest innovative live performance with five weeks of events representing the forefront of arts practice from the most exciting international artists and their Scottish counterparts.

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EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF MIDDLE EASTERN SPIRITUALITY AND PEACE MULTI-ARTS Various venues: Edinburgh, mesp.org.uk

The Middle East Festival draws together people from a wide range of spiritual backgrounds, cultures, traditions and communities to celebrate peace and mutual understanding via spiritual, educational, artistic and cultural events.

5–22 MARCH

5–17 MARCH

GLASGOW’S ST. PATRICK’S FESTIVAL

A programme of events taking in Irish music and history and celebrating the connections between Scotland and Ireland.

5–11 MARCH

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

A week-long programme offering over 100 author events, activities and readings for children, families and school pupils of all ages.

7–15 MARCH

HIDDEN DOOR MULTI-ARTS Roxy Art House, 2 Roxburgh Place, Edinburgh, roxyarthouse.org

Artists of all stripes congregate for the Hidden Door interdisciplinary arts festival, which features dozens of bands, artists, poets and filmmakers all under one roof, often working in some new and exciting combinations.

PERFORM IN PERTH MULTI-ARTS Various venues: Perth, perthcompfest@blueyonder. co.uk, perthshire-musicfestival.org.uk

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

7–20 MARCH

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

The festival celebrates the best of Italian cinema, mixing classic and contemporary cinematic delight.

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7–9 MARCH

13–23 MARCH

WEE DUB FESTIVAL

YOUNG AT HEART FESTIVAL

MUSIC Old Town, Edinburgh, weedubfestival.co.uk

Scotland’s only festival dedicated to dub and reggae music in all of its many forms. This year’s event features the likes of Iration Steppas, Channel One Soundsystem, American head Charge Soundsystem and Mungo’s Hi-Fi.

MULTI-ARTS Various venues: Scotland, southlanarkshire.gov.uk/SLLC/ info/50/the_town_house_ hamilton/753/young_at_heart

The over 50s take control of the spotlight for this informal festival of free recitals, a craft fair, exhibitions, film screenings and author visits.

10–15 MARCH

14–24 MARCH

GALLOWAY MUSIC FESTIVAL

FIFE SCIENCE FESTIVAL

MUSIC Various venues; Galloway, gallowaymusicfestival.org.uk

FAMILY / SCIENCE Various venues: Fife, fifesciencefestival.org.uk

Competitive festival for amateur musicians of all ages. plus a concert on the final day.

Coinciding with National Science and Engineering Week, the festival takes a look at both the past and the future of science in Fife, from notable experts and advances developed in the area, to how science and technology is working to preserve Fife’s heritage, both natural and cultural. Events include family fun days, guided walks, lectures and workshops.

12–16 MARCH

ABERDEEN JAZZ FESTIVAL MUSIC Various venues: Aberdeen, aberdeenjazzfestival.com

A host of musicians and performers descends on the Granite City for workshops, jamming sessions, chilled out gigs on the green and late night sessions.

12–16 MARCH

HIPPODROME FESTIVAL OF SILENT CINEMA FILM & TV / FAMILY The Hippodrome, 10 Hope Street, Bo’ness, falkirkcommunitytrust.org/ silentcinemafest

Scotland’s only silent film festival runs over five days with events, screenings, new commissions and workshops, with a mix of rare, recently re-discovered and classic silent films with live accompaniment, and also revives the humble tradition of the Film Explainer (part narrator / part actor).

14–17 MARCH

EDINBURGH’S FESTIVAL OF IRELAND MULTI-ARTS Various venues: Edinburgh, edinburghsfestivalofireland.org

Edinburgh’s Festival of Ireland is a multi-arts, family-friendly celebration of the Emerald Isle, with storytelling, music, dance, talks, comedy and food & drink events.

14 MARCH–5 APRIL

GLASGOW INTERNATIONAL COMEDY FESTIVAL COMEDY / THEATRE & DANCE Various venues: Glasgow, glasgowcomedyfestival.com

Glasgow’s comedy festival is birling into its 11th year, getting ever more impressive with each

SPOTLIGHT ON . . .

STANZA Illustrious line-up for St Andrews poetry festival Once more, St Andrews bursts into spring life with the sound of verse being spoken (and spoken about) during StAnza 2014. Across five days, there will be performances, readings, talks, exhibitions, installations, workshops and open mic events under the umbrella themes of ‘A Common Wealth of Poetry’ (part of the Homecoming 2014 celebrations) and ‘Words Under Fire’ (which marks the centenary of WWI and its extraordinary poetry legacy).

Headline poets at this year’s Scottish International Poetry Festival include Carol Ann Duffy (pictured), John Burnside and Paul Muldoon, the award-winning Irish writer who will be making his StAnza debut and was once dubbed by the Times Literary Supplement as ‘the most significant English-language poet born since the Second World War.’ Other poets appearing include Forward Prize-winner Tishani Doshi and West Coast US ‘language poet’ David Silliman, while David Constantine will deliver the StAnza lecture, ‘The Great War at Home and Abroad’.

(Brian Donaldson) ■ Various venues, St Andrews, 5–9 March, stanzapoetry.org 29

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29 MARCH–19 APRIL

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

The UK’s largest and longest established 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.

APRIL 1–13 APRIL

FIFE COMEDY FESTIVAL COMEDY Various venues: Central Fife, onfife.com

The kingdom pulls in some impressive names for its debut comedy festival, with Rich Hall, Omid Djalili and Jerry Sadowitz headlining across three Fife venues. outing. The 2014 bill includes the witty likes of Richard Herring, Russell Kane, Shappi Khorsandi, Miles Jupp, Pam Ann and Chris Ramsey.

celebrate the life of Perthshire fiddle legend Niel Gow, the annual festival is now a breeding ground for traditional music talent.

19–20 MARCH

22–23 MARCH

CREATIVE LOOP STUDENT MEDIA FESTIVAL

DUNBAR SCIFEST

MULTI-ARTS CCA, 350 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow, creativeloop.org

A collection of lectures, workshops and masterclasses aimed at the creative students of Scotland.

21–23 MARCH

NIEL GOW ANNUAL SCOTTISH FIDDLE FESTIVAL MUSIC Various venues: Dunkeld & Birnam, niel-gow.co.uk

Established back in 2004 to 30

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SCIENCE Various venues: Dunbar, dunbarscifest.org.uk

An exciting, interesting and fun couple of days comprising shows, workshops, storytelling and talks.

24–28 MARCH

LORN DRAMA FESTIVAL THEATRE & DANCE Corran Halls, The Esplanade, Oban, argyllcommunities.org/ lorndramafestival

A festival of one-act plays performed by drama groups from all over Argyll.

4–21 APRIL

GLASGOW INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF VISUAL ART ART Various venues: Glasgow, glasgowinternational.org

See panel, p32.

4–12 APRIL

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

See panel, p33.

4–5 APRIL

INVERNESS WHISKY FESTIVAL FOOD & DRINK / MUSIC Various venues: Inverness, invernesswhiskyfestival.com LIST.CO.UK/FESTIVALS

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2014 THE GUIDE TO SCOTLAND’S FESTIVALS

A diverse and lively whisky festival with a tasty programme of live music, masterclasses, food, fashion and crafts from around the world to accompany the tippling.

4–9 APRIL

EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL HARP FESTIVAL MUSIC Merchiston Castle School, 294 Colinton Road, Edinburgh, office@harpfestival.co.uk, harpfestival.co.uk

A very healthy mix of worldclass harpists and up-andcoming local talents playing a range of musical styles from folk to jazz for concerts, courses, workshops, the UK’s largest harpmakers’ exhibition and late night music sessions.

5–20 APRIL

GASTROFEST FOOD & DRINK / SCIENCE Various venues: Edinburgh, info@sciencefestival.co.uk, sciencefestival.co.uk

Food producers, chefs and mixologists help sciencey types explore the experiences of taste, disgust, pleasure and other aspects of consumption through demos, workshops, exhibitions and discussions.

5–20 APRIL

EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL SCIENCE FESTIVAL FAMILY / SCIENCE Various venues: Edinburgh, info@sciencefestival.co.uk, sciencefestival.co.uk

City Art Centre is transformed into a hub for science fun (and learning) where kids (and adults!) can unwrap a mummy, inspect the inside of an eyeball or programme their very own robot.

4–6 APRIL

COUNTERFLOWS

5–13 APRIL

MULTI-ARTS Various venues: Glasgow, counterflows.com

ON THE ROCKS STUDENT ARTS FESTIVAL

Counterflows marries the local to the international with artists from around the world collaborating with homegrown talent in spaces across Glasgow and London’s Cafe Oto.

MULTI-ARTS Various venues: St Andrews, ontherocksfestival.com

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

MUSIC The Stromness Hotel, The Pierhead, Stromness, Orkney, stromnesshotel.com

A weekend of traditional jazz with players from around the UK and a sprinkling of local talent to ensure a true Orcadian flavour.

11–20 APRIL

BRING IT ALL HOME MUSIC Various venues: Paisley, visitscotland.com

A songwriting festival in celebration of the late Gerry Rafferty, bringing together some of the country’s best songwriters.

11–20 APRIL

GLASGOW OPEN HOUSE ART FESTIVAL ART Various venues: Glasgow, glasgowopenhouse.wordpress. com

Emerging and established contemporary artists open the doors of the city’s domestic and disused spaces.

13–18 APRIL

WALK ISLAY OUTDOOR Various venues: Isle of Islay, walkislay.co.uk

See the best of Scottish island landscapes with this walking festival.

5 APRIL–5 MAY 4–6 APRIL

ALCHEMY FILM AND MOVING IMAGE FESTIVAL FILM & TV / ART Tower Mill, Heart of Hawick, Kirkstile, Hawick, info@ alchemyfilmfestival.org.uk, alchemyfilmfestival.org.uk

Annual film festival with a focus on screening work that relates to the natural world, to landscape, to mankind’s relationship with natural forces, or to alchemy itself.

WILD SPRING FESTIVAL FAMILY / OUTDOOR Various venues: Dumfries and Galloway, wildspringfestival.com

Nearly 100 wildlife-themed events including hands-on family activities as well as opportunities to see Scotland’s spectacular animals and birds.

11–13 APRIL

ORKNEY JAZZ FESTIVAL

OTHER MAJOR EVENTS In addition to these festivals there are many other major events taking place in April and May 2014 including: • British Swimming Championships • Whisky Month • IRB Sevens For more details of these events see pages 21–23 31

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17–26 APRIL

24–27 APRIL

JOHN MUIR FESTIVAL

DEAD BY DAWN

ALEKSANDRA DOMANOVI!

ART / OUTDOOR Various venues: Scotland, snh.gov.uk

See panel, p34.

18–20 APRIL

SPOTLIGHT ON . . .

GLASGOW INTERNATIONAL Diverse festival of contemporary visual art Glasgow International continues to cement its reputation for diverse and innovative programming and curation in one of Britain’s best cities for contemporary art. Now firmly established on the international arts calendar, the festival has expanded its focus for the coming year, but will continue to showcase talent from Glasgow.

This year, programmers have joined Homecoming Scotland 2014 to commission a series of site-specific projects in historic buildings, such as Anthea Hamilton and Nicholas Byrne’s inflatable installation at Govanhill Baths, and a permanent outdoor play and learning centre in Dalmarnock.

Other highlights include Le Swimming, a group work in a disused underground car park, a joint show by British potter Lucie Rie and American photographer George Platt Lynes, and a solo exhibition

by Simon Martin responding to work at Kelvingrove.

(Rhona Taylor) ■ Various venues, Glasgow, 4–21 Apr, glasgowinternational. org 32

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NORTHERN NASHVILLE CAITHNESS COUNTRY MUSIC FESTIVAL MUSIC Caithness Indoor Riding School, Caithness, teengray@ hotmail.com, nncmc.co.uk

Country music festival bringing together stars from the USA, Europe, Ireland and Scotland.

18–21 APRIL

FILM & TV Filmhouse, 88 Lothian Road, Edinburgh, info@deadbydawn.co.uk, deadbydawn.co.uk

A selection of blood-curdling genre premieres, classic features, short films and special guests.

25–27 APRIL

NORTHERN STREAMS THEATRE & DANCE / MUSIC Various venues: Edinburgh, northernstreams.org

A celebration of Nordic and British traditional music, song and dance bringing together top and emerging artists from Scandinavia, Scotland and beyond.

YELLAE DEUKS FAMILY / MUSIC Various venues: Anstruther, yellaedeuks.org

25–27 APRIL

A brand new Easter celebration featuring performances, workshops and various egg-related shenanigans for kids. As the evenings draw in there are a number of performances from local musicians.

MUSIC Wee Red Bar, Edinburgh College of Art, Lauriston Place, Edinburgh, weeredbar.co.uk

23–26 APRIL

PAISLEY BEER FESTIVAL FOOD & DRINK Paisley Town Hall, Abbey Close, paisleybeerfestival. org.uk

Four-day festival celebrating the best ales from around the UK and Europe.

23–27 APRIL

BUZZCUT FESTIVAL THEATRE & DANCE / ART Pearce Institute, 840 Govan Road, Glasgow, glasgowbuzzcut.wordpress.com

Cutting edge performance art festival, all about sharing: food, ideas and homes.

PUSSY WHIPPED FESTIVAL

Three-dayer organised by Edinburgh’s queer-feminist underground music night, with a programme that spans gigs, club nights, films and workshops.

26 APRIL–4 MAY

EUROPEAN FESTIVAL OF BRASS 2014 MUSIC Various venues: Perth, europeanfestivalofbrass2014. com

Perth plays host to the top brass bands from 20 European countries who will perform at venues across the country.

28 APRIL–18 MAY

ISLE OF COLONSAY: FESTIVAL OF SPRING OUTDOOR LIST.CO.UK/FESTIVALS

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Various venues: Isle of Colonsay, colonsayevents.co.uk Welcome in the budding springtime with a series of birdwatching events, walks and talks, music and poetry, foraging and sports.

28 APRIL–4 MAY

DUMFRIES & GALLOWAY SCIENCE FESTIVAL FAMILY / SCIENCE Various venues: Dumfries & Galloway, dgsciencefestival. org.uk

Family-oriented science fest, with a ‘Mayhem Day’, drop-in displays and exhibitions for everyone.

30 APRIL

BELTANE FIRE FESTIVAL HERITAGE Calton Hill, Waterloo Place, Edinburgh, beltane.org

See panel, p36.

AYE WRITE! Glasgow’s book festival turns over a new leaf

MAY MAY, DATES TBC

COLOURSFEST MUSIC Braehead Arena, Glasgow, info@colours.co.uk, colours.co.uk

Scotland’s longest running dance event brings together 10,000 clubbers with superstar DJs. 1–4 MAY

DUNDEAD HORROR FILM FESTIVAL FILM & TV Dundee Contemporary Arts, 152 Nethergate, Dundee, 01382 909900, dca.org.uk

With a programme of sneak previews and terrifying classics, the festival has an inclusive feel, welcoming suggestions via twitter and facebook.

Operating from its headquarters at the iconic Mitchell Library, Aye Write! has been bringing together big international names and homegrown writing talent for the best part of a decade, maturing into a festival that looms large on Glasgow’s events calendar. The 2014 programme marks the ninth edition of the festival, whose packed roster of author events, literary lectures, panel discussions and creative writing workshops grows ever more adventurous.

Expanding to realms beyond the book world, last year’s festival explored the intertwining areas of literature and science, and the arts and food, offering the chance to catch a word from Rebus creator Ian Rankin, Costa-winner Maggie O’Farrell and Edinburgh Makar Ron Butlin, alongside BBC arts editor Will Gompertz, musician Tracey Thorn and chef Antonio Carluccio.

There’s little doubt that this will be a landmark year for the festival: word on the street has it that 2014 is a big year for Glasgow in general – Commonwealth Games and all that – and new Aye Write! boss Stuart Kelly has plans to keep apace with all the action: novelwriting time trials, anyone?

Along with the big games, Aye Write! will apply its literary touch to other important events throughout the year, including the 700th anniversary of Bannockburn, the Scottish independence referendum and the 200th year since the publication of Sir Walter Scott’s Waverley, which provides a historical novel focus for the 2014 event.

(Jaclyn Arndt) ■ Mitchell Library, Glasgow, 4–12 Apr, ayewrite.com 33

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1–5 MAY

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

Distilleries, shops, restaurants, pubs and villages throughout Speyside – home to more than half of Scotland’s whisky distilleries – will merrily welcome visitors with an enormous array of special tastings, food, outdoor activities, music, ceilidhs and many other events.

1–11 MAY

TRADFEST MUSIC / HERITAGE Various venues: Edinburgh, scottishstorytellingcentre. co.uk/tradfest

JOHN MUIR FESTIVAL

A feast of music, song, storytelling dance and craft coincide with the seasonal rites of Beltane and May Day given a contemporary spin.

Honouring a great Scottish naturalist 1–4 MAY A large part of Homecoming Scotland is about recognising and celebrating the numerous achievements of Scots abroad. Our most adventurous and pioneering minds have historically struck out to make their mark beyond our borders: John Logie Baird resided in the south of England when he developed the television, while Alexander Graham Bell flitted between Canada and America while he worked on the telephone.

Dunbar-born naturalist John Muir is another of our great emigrants, regarded in the US as ‘the father of the National Parks’ for his environmental preservation activities and founding of the conservationist Sierra Club. He’s set to be freshly remembered on these shores in a brand new festival as part of Homecoming Scotland 2014, marking the 100th anniversary of his death.

Taking place in the second half of April, the John Muir Festival will feature specially commissioned events and large scale public performances led by nationally and internationally renowned artists along the length of the new, 134-mile John Muir Trail (which stretches from his birthplace in Dunbar across the central belt to Helensburgh on the Firth of Clyde).

UZ Arts, whose previous credits include outdoor arts festival Roofless, have been invited to programme the week, with events incorporating John Muir Day and the international launch of Andy Scott’s massive Kelpies sculpture at the Helix Park in Falkirk. It’s a programme that unites Muir’s philosophy with the environment that first inspired it: his homeland’s wild, natural beauty. (Niki Boyle) ■ Various venues, Scotland, 17–26 Apr, snh.gov.uk 34

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

The most northerly folk festival in the United Kingdom continues to host eclectic line-ups of folk, blues, jazz and swing. It’s famous for showcasing Shetland musicianship, especially the unique fiddle tradition.

1–4 MAY

DARVEL MUSIC FESTIVAL COMMUNITY / MUSIC Town Hall, 10-12 West Main Street, Darvel, darvelmusicfestival.org

A community-led festival, Darvel has been gathering fans over the past ten years under the stewardship of Neil and Sheila McKenna.

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“iconic gem of a festival” The Scotsman

A midsummer celebration with international soloists, chamber groups and orchestras. The 2014 Festival also celebrates Homecoming Scotland.

www.stmagnusfestival.com stmagnusfestival

@stmagnus

e: info@stmagnusfestival.com t: 01856.871445 60 Victoria Street, Kirkwall, Orkney KW15 1DN St Magnus Festival is a charity registered in Scotland. Scottish Charity No. SC011666

CONNECT WITH CULTURE: SCOTLAND'S LIVING TRADITIONS Music . Song . Storytelling . Dance You've seen the landscape, the vibrant cities and rich history…Don't miss the warmth, talent and energy of a modern culture inspired by tradition.

FESTIVALS Scotland serves up a feast of local and national festivals throughout the year. www.creativescotland.com/festivals www.tracscotland.org www.tmsa.org.uk

WORKSHOPS AND COURSES Fèis Eadar-Nàiseanta Bàrdachd na h-Alba

St Andrews 5 – 9 March Carol Ann Duffy Paul Muldoon Menna Elfyn John Burnside Louis de Bernières Sujata Bhatt A Common Wealth of Poetry : Words Under Fire

From tasters to master classes, experience Scotland’s living traditions, learn more about our diverse culture and hone your skills in traditional arts. www.tracscotland.org

FÈISEAN AND CEILIDH TRAILS See and hear Scotland’s Gaelic traditions of music, song and ceilidh. www.feisean.org www.feisceilidhtrails.org

poetry · performance · films · installations music · workshops · talks · exhibitions

Local events give a special flavour so tap into local connections for inspiring sessions.

www.stanzapoetry.or g

www.tracscotland.org

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2–4 MAY

2 MAY–1 JUNE

GIRVAN TRADITIONAL FOLK FESTIVAL

NATURE-FEST

OVE HANSEN

MUSIC Various venues: Girvan, info@girvanfolkfestival.co.uk, girvanfolkfestival.co.uk

SPOTLIGHT ON . . .

BELTANE FIRE FESTIVAL Fire festival celebrating the birth of summer Started in 1988 by a movement which included members of the radical industrial music group Test Dept, the Beltane Fire Festival is an annual event which recreates the preChristian celebration of the start of summer. Held on the night leading into May Day, Edinburgh’s Beltane event takes place on Calton Hill rather than the traditional spot on the far less accessible Arthur’s Seat, bringing a vibrant and decidedly visible sense of ceremony to one of the city’s most iconic green spaces.

The Beltane Fire Festival follows a dramatic ceremonial arc which shows the characters of the May Queen and the Green Man bringing about the birth of summer. An extended procession which can fairly be described as spectacular, the performers of the Beltane Fire Society imbue it with a once seen, never forgotten sense of theatre, involving dance, fire poi and synchronised drumming. (David Pollock) ■ Calton Hill, Edinburgh, 30 Apr, beltane.org 36

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FAMILY Various venues: Falkirk, nature-fest.co.uk

A weekend community folk festival featuring a range of open sessions and concerts.

Nature and wildlife-related activities, events and workshops celebrating the natural heritage of the Falkirk area.

2 MAY

3–10 MAY

KINGDOM OF FIFE REAL ALE, CIDER AND PERRY FESTIVAL

HIGHLAND PERTHSHIRE CYCLING FESTIVAL

FOOD & DRINK Rothes Halls, Kingdom Centre, Glenrothes, onfife.com

FAMILY / MUSIC / OUTDOOR Various venues: Perthshire, highlandperthshirecycling festival.co.uk

A chance to sample over 40 real ales from around the country, as well as wines, ciders, perrys and continental beers.

2–5 MAY

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

A tempting festival of Western classical music set amid the quite stunning scenery of Loch Shiel.

2–10 MAY

SCOTTISH SIX DAYS TRIAL OUTDOOR Various venues: Fort William, ssdt.org

The Scottish Six Day Trial entices riders from across the globe to race their motorcycles through the Scottish landscape.

2–5 MAY

ISLE OF BUTE JAZZ FESTIVAL MUSIC Various venues: Argyll and Bute, butejazz.com

A well-established jazz festival covering New Orleans to mainstream and modern jazz.

Highlights include the family jazz picnic.

A week-long celebration of cycling with a packed programme of guided mountain bike and road rides, evening rides, school events, the BIG Day (a family fun cycle day) and evening entertainment.

3–4 MAY

ELECTRIC FROG MUSIC Cabaret Voltaire, 36–38 Blair Street, Edinburgh, info@theelectricfrog.co.uk, theelectricfrog.co.uk

With a reputation for putting on some of Scotland’s best parties, the Electric Frog crew present another music event.

3 MAY

BREW AT THE BOG FOOD & DRINK / MUSIC Bogbain Adventure & Heritage Farm, Drumossie, Inverness, brewatthebog.com

A day of great music and fabulous beer with BrewDog, the coolest craft beer label on the block, and Bogbain Farm, which was voted Scotland’s Best Unusual Venue at the Scottish Event Awards. The line-up will be hand-picked from Britain’s flourishing indie scene.

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5–12 MAY

IMAGINATE FESTIVAL

Newton Stewart Walking Festival

FAMILY / THEATRE & DANCE Various venues: Edinburgh, imaginate.org.uk

See panel, p38.

6–31 MAY

MAYFESTO THEATRE & DANCE Tron Theatre, 63 Trongate, Glasgow, tron.co.uk/mayfesto

Mayfesto celebrates theatre with an edge, and drama that focuses on what’s going on in the world and responds to recent events.

9–15 MAY

NEWTON STEWART WALKING FESTIVAL OUTDOOR Various venues: Galloway, newtonstewartwalkfest.co.uk

A week of guided walks exploring the wild hills, rugged coastline and rolling countryside of Galloway in south west Scotland.

are accompanied by the opening night play and the BookandBedFest which allows campers to take part in book karaoke.

9–11 MAY

9–11 MAY

9–11 MAY

KELSO COUNTRY AND WESTERN FESTIVAL

MONIAIVE FOLK FESTIVAL

MUSIC Springwood Hall, Springwood Park, Kelso, broncosfestival.co.uk

MUSIC Various venues: Moniaive, moniaivefolkfestival.co.uk

Continuing the importance of literature in Highland culture, this enticing festival brings together a bunch of writers from the local area, across Scotland and from abroad. And it knows how to take care of its guests: the events are organised thoughtfully so that festival-goers can attend everything, and the Saturday sessions start with a bacon roll and coffee and end with a delicious smoked salmon supper.

A Western-themed affair, complete with line dancing tuition, a fast-draw competition, a ladies’ afternoon tea (Western attire compulsory) and of course, live music.

9–11 MAY

BOSWELL BOOK FESTIVAL LITERATURE Auchinleck House, Auchinleck, Cumnock, info@boswellbookfestival.co.uk, boswellbookfestival.co.uk

A quirky literary festival featuring talks, performances and workshops by writers, actors and artists which

The Moniaive Folk Festival boasts myriad musical sessions, children’s programme, workshops and piping competition.

9–11 MAY

UNIVERSITY OF ABERDEEN MAY FESTIVAL MULTI-ARTS University of Aberdeen, King’s College, Aberdeen, events@abdn.ac.uk, abdn.ac.uk/mayfestival

A vibrant programme of events to promote culture, arts, music, film, science and Gaelic with events for all ages and backgrounds.

ULLAPOOL BOOK FESTIVAL LITERATURE Various venues: Ullapool, ullapoolbookfestival.co.uk

10–25 MAY

FALKIRK TRYST FESTIVAL THEATRE & DANCE / ART Falkirk Town Hall, West Bridge Street, Falkirk, trystfestival.org.uk

This annual festival features the best of the visual and performing arts down Falkirk way.

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SPOTLIGHT ON . . .

IMAGINATE FESTIVAL Cultural fun for kids both big and small With a programme heavy on puppetry, physical theatre and storytelling, the week-long festival hosts shows geared to keeping children aged 3–13 (and beyond) entertained, inviting companies from around the world to take on the challenge of appealing to this notoriously hard group of critics.

The festival’s 25th year brings the Barrowland Ballet’s critically acclaimed sound, colour and dance-based performance Tiger Tale to Edinburgh, along with a crew of adorable, fuzzy penguin pals in the toddlergeared Too Many Penguins, from macrobert and Frozen Charlotte.

The festival should also offer more serious fare for older kids, in the vein of last year’s production of Fleeto, an examination of Glasgow’s knife culture. In addition to the public showings, Imaginate extends its reach into Scotland’s schools, ensuring as many kids as possible get to stretch their imagination muscles.

(Jaclyn Arndt) ■ Various venues, Edinburgh, 5–12 May, imaginate.org.uk/ festival 38

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10–11 MAY 10

12–24 MAY

SCOTTISH BIRDFAIR S

BOOKED!

M MULTI-ARTS Hopetoun House, Shore Road, H South Queensferry, S scottishbirdfair.org.uk s

LITERATURE / COMMUNITY Various venues: West Dunbartonshire, bookedfestival. info

A series of talks, walks, workshops, children’s activities w and some live music in the a evening, as well as numerous e exhibitors of bird-related e memorabilia. m

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

14 MAY

10 MAY

PERTH BEER FESTIVAL FOOD & DRINK North Inch Park, Perth, info@perthbeerfestival.co.uk, perthbeerfestival.co.uk

A tempting combination of a beer festival and rugby sevens tournament so you have something to watch while drinking hearty beers from all around the country.

11–16 MAY

AVIEMORE WALKING FESTIVAL OUTDOOR Various venues: Aviemore, aviemorewalking.talktalk.net

This walking festival offers a variety of guided walks from gentle strolls through forests and along loch shores to challenging high-level mountain walks in the Cairngorm Mountains.

11 MAY

THE SCRIBBLER’S PICNIC MUSIC FESTIVAL AND FUNDAY MUSIC Stirling County Rugby Club, Causewayhead Road, Stirling, scribblerspicnic@live.co.uk, scribblerspicnic.co.uk

A music and fun-packed festival for all ages, specifically aimed at family entertainment and raising money for well-deserving cancer charities.

HEART OF SCOTLAND BEER FESTIVAL FOOD & DRINK Perth Racecourse, Scone Palace Park, Perth, perth-races. co.uk

Beer festival on the eve of Ladies Day featuring an evening race meeting, beer tastings, oompah band and Bavarian feast.

16–18 MAY

FIFE TRADITIONAL SINGING FESTIVAL MUSIC / HERITAGE Fife Animal Park, Birnie Field Collessie, Cupar, springthyme.co.uk/fifesing

A celebration of traditional singing for singers and enthusiasts. The weekend includes concerts, singarounds, sessions, workshops and talks.

16–18 MAY

FESTIVAL OF MUSEUMS HERITAGE Various venues: Scotland, festivalofmuseums.com

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

Past events have included breakdancing and military fitness sessions; behind-the-scenes tours at Dundee’s McManus; a Gothic Food Fair at The Dick; a Renaissance fashion show and more.

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16–18 MAY

17–27 MAY

IRVINE VALLEY WALKING FESTIVAL

THE BORDERS FESTIVAL OF THE HORSE

OUTDOOR Various venues: Irvine, ivrp.org.uk

The 12th annual walking festival takes in some of the finer spots around the area.

There are different levels of walk for beginners and experienced hikers alike.

OUTDOOR Various venues: Scottish Borders, bordersfestivalhorse.org

A ten-day festival featuring competitions, displays and equestrian activities for all horse lovers.

16–30 MAY

17 MAY

MIDDLE EASTERN FILM FESTIVAL

GLASGOW’S WHISKY FESTIVAL

FILM & TV Filmhouse, 88 Lothian Road, Edinburgh, mesp2013@ hotmail.co.uk, filmhousecinema.com

FOOD & DRINK The Arches, 253 Argyle Street, Glasgow, glasgowswhiskyfestival.com

A retrospective of cinema on the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict.

16–19 MAY

ISLE OF ARRAN MOUNTAIN FESTIVAL OUTDOOR Various venues: Arran, info@ arranmountainfestival.co.uk, arranmountainfestival.co.uk

A huge variety of guided walks and scrambles throughout Arran’s stunning hills and mountains: from wildlife-watching walks along the island’s coastline to airy scrambles on towering granite ridges.

16–25 MAY

DUMFRIES AND GALLOWAY ARTS FESTIVAL MULTI-ARTS Various venues: Dumfries and Galloway, info@dgartsfestival.org.uk, dgartsfestival.org.uk

The ten-day family-friendly multi-arts Borders-based festival boasts everything from theatre, dance and music to literature, film and art.

Glasgow’s festival of the national tipple is especially interested in distillers and bottlers from in and around Glasgow itself, but they welcome all, big or small.

17–18 MAY

LOCH FYNE FOOD FAIR FOOD & DRINK Loch Fyne Oyster Bar and Seafood Restaurant, Clachan, Cairndow, info@lochfyne.com, lochfyne.com/events

In operation since 1990, the Loch Fyne Food Fair celebrates the best local produce Scotland has to offer. Alongside Loch Fyne Oysters own seafood stands, the event features live music throughout both days, a craft tent and a dedicated children’s area hosting a whole range of exciting activities.

17–25 MAY

WILD LOCHABER FESTIVAL OUTDOOR Various venues: Lochaber, info@wildlochaber.org, wildlochaber.org

A week of activities celebrating the wealth of wildlife and spectacular scenery in Lochaber including guided walks, rock safaris, boat trips, children’s

nature activities, wildlife safaris and guided sea kayaking.

18–23 MAY

BALLATER WALKING FESTIVAL OUTDOOR Various venues: Royal Deeside & The Cairngorms, info@ walkballater.com, 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 over six days, which are led by knowledgeable local residents, full-time rangers and professional mountain guides.

22–25 MAY

KNOCKENGORROCH WORLD CEILIDH FAMILY / MUSIC Knockengorroch Farm, Carsphairn, Castle Douglas, info@knockengorroch.org.uk, 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 music with electronica, hip-hop and drum & bass thrown in for good measure, both performed live and DJed. The musical programme is complemented by cabaret, spoken word, comedy and dance.

22–25 MAY

ORKNEY FOLK FESTIVAL MUSIC Various venues: Orkney, info@ orkneyfolkfestival.com, orkneyfolkfestival.com

A firm fixture in the folk festival calendar and now in its 31st year, the festival’s combination of Orcadian talent and talented visiting musicians earned it the accolade Event of the Year at the 2011 Scots Trad Music Awards.

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22–24 MAY

ISLE OF SKYE ACCORDION AND FIDDLE FESTIVAL MUSIC Various venues: Isle of Skye, info@skyemusic.co.uk, skyemusic.co.uk/festival.asp

A weekend of traditional music celebrating the twin tenets of Scottish folk music, the accordion and fiddle, with a series of gigs and ceilidhs on Skye.

22–25 MAY

HAPPYNESS COMEDY FESTIVAL COMEDY Various venues: Inverness, happy-ness.co.uk

See panel, p42.

buchanheritagesociety.co.uk/ festival.htm This friendly festival has been running since 1984 and seeks to keep traditional art forms alive.

Located in North East Scotland, it offers a programme of music, song, verse, drama and dance as well as competitions and ceilidhs.

23–25 MAY

MONTROSE MUSIC FESTIVAL MUSIC Various venues: Montrose, enquiries@montrosemusic festival.co.uk, montrosemusicfestival.co.uk

Affectionately known as ‘Mo Fest’, this annual event in the colourful town of Montrose offers band nights, ceilidhs,

big names on stage and a campsite.

23–26 MAY

BURNS AN’ A’ THAT! FESTIVAL MULTI-ARTS Various venues: Ayr, burnsfestival.com

This multi-arts mash-up has boasted the crème de la crème of the Scottish arts scene over the years with its distinctive brand of cultural showcase.

Set largely in Ayrshire but with special events often sprinkled around the country, the programme embraces everything from poetry, debate and dancing to music, readings and songs, not forgetting the obligatory dram or two, courtesy of the festival’s food and drink strand.

22 MAY–1 JUNE

PERTH FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS

TweedLove Bike Festival

MULTI-ARTS Perth Concert Hall, Mill Street, Perth, perthfestival.co.uk

Music, comedy, theatre, dance and visual arts are all up for grabs at this festival. Highlights include The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Jools Holland, Marc Almond, ‘The Perthshire Cantata’ (Dougie MacLean) and London Classic Theatre’s Entertaining Mr Sloane.

23–25 MAY

DUNDONALD MUSIC FESTIVAL MUSIC Various venues: Dundonald, info@dundonaldmusicfest.org. uk, dundonaldmusicfest.org.uk

A folk/rock weekender with a concert each night, plus music workshops and competitions for children.

23–25 MAY

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Spring Fling 2014 is set to be the most ambitious yet.

01387 213 218 www.spring-ing.co.uk /springingopenstudios @spring_ing #SF2014 #SFRM

Fri 23 festival friday in ayr town centre Sat 24 & sun 25 weekend in the park mon 26 alloway monday LIVE MUSIC, ARTS, FOOD & DRINK, BURNS EVENTS, KIDS AN’ A’ THAT plus more!

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24–26 MAY

29 MAY

SPRING FLING

ABERDEEN AND NORTH EAST CAMRA BEER FESTIVAL

ART Various venues: Dumfries & Galloway, info@spring-fling.co.uk, spring-fling.co.uk

A vibrant visual art and craft open studios event covering the length and breadth of Dumfries and Galloway and offering that chance to see behind-thescenes of around 80 local artists.

24 MAY

SPOTLIGHT ON . . .

HAPPYNESS Comedy fest the Highlands can boast about Pitching up on the calendar rather neatly between the Glasgow Comedy Festival and the cultural behemoth that is the Edinburgh Fringe, this Inverness gathering can take on the big names thanks to the existence of the Eden Court Theatre as well as the more intimate gigs at a range of smaller venues. Happyness is certainly collecting the bigname acts year on year and in 2013, Dylan Moran, Jenny Éclair, Russell Kane and Alan Davies all showed up.

The eclectic programme (this year’s bill should appear in the early part of 2014) featured a Gaelic showcase, the ever-bold Arthur Smith dragging the willing and available on a city tour of the likes only he can dream up plus there are a range of free shows for the small ones. Throw in some latenight bills and the odd gig outside shopping centres and you have an event that the Highlands can be proud of.

(Brian Donaldson) ■ Various venues, Inverness, 22–25 May, happy-ness.co.uk 42

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MAUCHLINE HOLY FAIR HERITAGE Mauchline Town Centre, Kilmarnock Road, Mauchline, mauchlineburnsclub.com/fair. htm

A recreation of an 18th century street festival in the tradition of the fairs held in Robert Burns’ time featuring over 70 market stalls and living history re-enactments.

FOOD & DRINK Pittodrie Stadium, Pittodrie Rd, Aberdeen, aberdeencamra.co.uk

The Campaign for Real Ales’ most northerly festival offers discerning drinkers the opportunity to sample the finest ale that the UK has to offer. Dark stouts, porters and easy drinking milds are on offer as well as barley wines, wheat beers and light pilsner style ales.

30 MAY–1 JUNE

PARTICK FOLK FESTIVAL MUSIC Various venues: Partick, Glasgow, partickfolkclub.org.uk/index.php

24–25 MAY

Three nights of traditional music, song and ceilidhs. Previously, the Jarlath Henderson Band and the Tannahill Weavers have lent their talents to the wekened.

STRATHYRE MUSIC FESTIVAL

30 MAY–1 JUNE

MUSIC Various venues: Strathyre, balvaig.co.uk

THE BORDER GAITHERIN – COLDSTREAM

A weekend of music to suit all tastes at this annual festival in Strathyre organised by local band Balvaig.

MUSIC / THEATRE & DANCE Various venues: Coldstream, border.gaitherin@zen.co.uk, bordergaitherin.com

24–31 MAY

TWEEDLOVE BIKE FESTIVAL FAMILY / OUTDOOR Various venues: Peebles, info@tweedlove.com, tweedlove.com

Chosen as a Homecoming 2014 event, TweedLove is eight days of bike riding and good times, encompassing all things cycling – from road and mountain bike races that attract pro cyclists to family rides through Peebles town centre and informal jaunts into the hills guided by local riders.

The Border Gaitherin offers a chance to camp near the River Tweed in Coldstream before taking in a weekend of traditional music and dance. Local talent is showcased in an open stage competition, plus there are workshops and ceilidhs for those who want to join in the fun.

30 MAY–1 JUNE

PORTSOY MUSIC FESTIVAL: THE FOURTH HAAL MUSIC Various venues: Portsoy, bothy.tickets@gmail.com, bothyfolk.com LIST.CO.UK/FESTIVALS

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A three-day festival which captures the varied music traditions of the north of Scotland, so there’s everything from bothy ballads to Burns as well as Celtic, folk, Americana and Irish influenced music. There is also a range of sessions, workshops and storytelling from local performers and musicians.

30 MAY–1 JUNE

NORTHERN ROOTS MUSIC FESTIVAL MUSIC Bogbain Adventure & Heritage Farm, Bogbain of Inshes, Drumossie, Inverness, info@northernrootsfestival.co.uk, northernrootsfestival.co.uk

Bruce MacGregor of Blazin’ Fiddles and BBC Radio Scotland started this festival to showcase the finest roots, folk and world music from around the world and it’s truly gone from strength to strength.

30 MAY–8 JUNE

HADDINGTON FESTIVAL MUSIC / HERITAGE / ART Various venues: Haddington, Haddington, East Lothian, jwilson4155@btinternet.com, haddingtoncc.org.uk

A local festival with a range of activities and concerts, exhibitions, craft fairs and a daily café and sporting competitions.

challenge with walks at all paces covering a range of local areas.

JUNE JUNE, DATES TBC

LEITHLATE ART Various venues: Leith, Edinburgh, leithlate.co.uk LeithLate is one huge art opening, with multiple free events taking place simultaneously over a number of art spaces and local businesses on and around Leith Walk, all within the space of just a few hours on the same evening.

OUTDOOR Various venues: Yetholm, Scottish Borders, yetholmonline.org.uk

A nice long weekend for ramblers, hikers, walkers and those who like an uphill

4–5 JUNE

GONORTH CREATIVE INDUSTRIES FESTIVAL MULTI-ARTS Various venues: Inverness, info@creativehi.com, gonorthfestival.co.uk

A creative industries festival that started out as a music showcasing festival and has grown into an industry staple, boasting some of the best emerging Scottish talent.

5–8 JUNE

1–30 JUNE

OCHILS FESTIVAL FAMILY / OUTDOOR Ochil Hills, Tillicoultry, info@ochils.org.uk, ochils.org.uk

The festival celebrates the cultural, environmental and built heritage of the Hillfoots of the Ochil Hills to the north of the River Forth with over 20 events including walks, talks, workshops and fun family activities.

ANGUS GLENS WALKING FESTIVAL OUTDOOR The Angus Glens, Dundee, walkingfestival@angusahead. com, angusahead.com/ walkingfestival

Twenty-eight walks over four days from gentle coastal strolls to exhilarating hikes, all guided by experienced mountain leaders. The evening programme is crowned by a popular ceilidh on the Saturday night.

1 JUNE

UK GREEN FILM FESTIVAL FILM & TV Various venues: Scotland, ukgreenfilmfestival.org

The film fest with an environmental conscience curates a UK-wide programme that informs, challenges, inspires and entertains.

31 MAY–1 JUNE

YETHOLM WALKING FESTIVAL

music sessions, the Riding of Linlithgow Marches, Provost’s dinner and lots of fun for children too.

3–22 JUNE

LINLITHGOW CIVIC FESTIVAL MULTI-ARTS Various venues: Linlithgow, linlithgow.com/civic_festival. htm

Spanning most of June, the Civic Festival includes folk

OTHER MAJOR EVENTS In addition to these festivals, there are many other major events taking place in June and July 2014 including: • Bannockburn Live • UCI Mountain Bike World Cup • The Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games • Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open • Scottish Hydro Challenge For more details of these events see pages 20–23 43

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5–15 JUNE

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

See panel, left.

5–8 JUNE

ARDROSSAN MUSIC EXPERIENCE MUSIC Various venues: Ardrossan, ardrossanmusicexperience.com

Returning for a third year, 2014 brings a new theatre element to the family-friendly festival, along with the regular blues, rock and pop nights. Peripheral events included art exhibitions, a guitar construction event and a songwriting workshop.

6–8 JUNE

RUTHVEN PARISH FESTIVAL GLASGOW SCIENCE FESTIVAL Make space in your diary Since its inception in 2007, the Glasgow Science Festival has rapidly grown to become one of the largest science events in the UK. Now playing host to over 45,000 visitors, its primary aim is to promote the sterling work of Glaswegian denizens in the fields of science, technology, engineering, maths and medicine, while engaging with people of all ages and any or no scientific background.

Proving that science doesn’t have to be all po-faced, events vary enormously and include comedy, art classes, quizzes, informal talks and workshops, all specially programmed for kids, families, adults and schools. Look out for Science Sunday, a special, funpacked day of demonstrations and activities for the whole family.

In previous years, guests have had the chance to join in a CSI-style ‘whodunnit’, try their hand at robot programming, and learn all about the mysteries of black holes.

This year’s festival takes place over two weeks in June and its theme is ‘Commonwealth and Homecoming’. With the Commonwealth Games kicking off just one month later, expect to delve into the science of sport, including topical discussions on athletics and performance enhancing drugs.

Last year’s festival took place in over 30 venues in and around the heart of the city. While its roster includes traditional locations such as lecture halls and laboratories, there are plenty of less obvious and more relaxed venues housing events, such as pubs, cafés and cinemas. (Murray Robertson) ■ Various venues, Glasgow, 5–15 Jun, glasgowsciencefestival.org.uk 44

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COMMUNITY Ruthven Church, Blairgowrie, ruthvenfestival@tiscali.co.uk, ruthvenassociation.org/ whats_happening.html

This classical music festival celebrates 25 years by taking as its theme for 2014 Bach to the Future, with music recitals from the Ruthven Festival Musicians, including a setting of poems by bestselling scribe, Alexander McCall Smith.

6–8 JUNE

POTFEST SCOTLAND ART Scone Palace, Scone, Perth, potfest@gmail.com, potfest.co.uk

Scotland’s 21st International Ceramics Festival features over 100 ceramic artists selling their work, with workshops, demonstrations and classes.

6–29 JUNE

WEST END FESTIVAL MULTI-ARTS West End, Glasgow, LIST.CO.UK/FESTIVALS

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westendfestival.co.uk Taking over the West End of Glasgow each year, the festival treats the ears to a great musical line-up, tantalises all the senses with a carnival and delves into the creative depths of local studios and exhibitions with the Hidden Lane open days.

6–8 JUNE

7–8 JUNE

UCI MOUNTAIN BIKE WORLD CUP OUTDOOR / MUSIC Fort William, Fort William, fortwilliamworldcup.co.uk

Mountain bike action from the planet’s top riders and, off the tracks, the World Cup Village offering all the latest mountain bike goodies, demos and entertainment.

TMSA KEITH FESTIVAL MULTI-ARTS Various venues: Keith, keithfestival@gmail.com, keithfestival.co.uk

Traditional music, song, poetry and dance across a platform of competitions and spectator events, ending with a Farewell Concert/Ceilidh to leave revellers with fond memories and the desire to return next year.

7 JUNE

STREETLAND MULTI-ARTS Govanhill, Glasgow, streetlandinfo@googlemail. com, streetland.net

Community festival and street party in Glasgow’s Govanhill, currently one of those exciting areas with a burgeoning creative scene.

6–14 JUNE

7–8 JUNE

EDINBURGH SHORT FILM FESTIVAL

MEADOWS FESTIVAL

FILM & TV Various venues: Edinburgh, edinburghshorts@gmail.com, edinburghshortfilmfestival.com

Ten events over two weekends, showcasing a selection of the best shorts by filmmakers from across the globe.

COMMUNITY / FAMILY / MUSIC The Meadows, Melville Drive, Edinburgh, meadowsfestival.3st.org.uk

The Meadows Festival offers the best local bands, dance groups, quirky performers and workshops amid lots of family-friendly activities.

6–20 JUNE

COTTIER CHAMBER PROJECT

8–14 JUNE

MUSIC Various venues: Glasgow, cottierchamberproject.com

MULTI-ARTS Various venues: Dundee, info@dundeewestfest.co.uk, westfest.webuda.com

Hosted by the enterprising chamber group Daniel’s Beard, the festival brings top-flight professional chamber musicians to the West End and promotes chamber music, jazz, nu-folk and world music to Glasgow audiences. The musicians who will be performing in 2014 are Red Note Ensemble, the Edinburgh Quartet, Moishe’s Bagel and musicians from the RSNO and SCO.

DUNDEE WESTFEST

Community arts festival based in the west end of Dundee, starting with Big Sunday, a gala day on Magdalen Green that features live music and entertainment, kids’ activities, stalls, food and drink. Throughout the week there’s a mix of walks, talks, literary events, music, dance, theatre, art and film.

SPOTLIGHT ON . . .

KELBURN GARDEN PARTY Seasonal fun in a sumptuous setting Small is extremely beautiful in the case of Ayrshire’s tiny party in a wooded glade. For the Kelburn Garden Party, its organisers have no wish to push numbers any higher and lose the intimate magic that the festival enjoys.

So this year the event will expand outwards rather than upwards, with only a nominal increase in capacity but also a first ever three-day festival running from Friday until Sunday.

Across four bespoke stages set in wooded seclusion in the grounds of the distinctive, graffiti-adorned Kelburn Castle, bands and DJs play everything from jazz and folk to hip hop, reggae and dance.

The beauty of this event is its family-friendliness, with a bohemian but well-managed area for kids by day (complete with a maze through the trees, and fields of animals) and a clubby late night party vibe until the wee hours.

(David Pollock) ■ Kelburn Castle, near Largs, 4–6 Jul, kelburngardenparty.com 45

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9–19 JUNE

FESTIVAL OF DANGEROUS IDEAS POLITICS / SCIENCE Various venues: Scotland, V karen.lawson@college developmentnetwork.ac.uk, scotlandscolleges.ac.uk

SPOTLIGHT ON . . .

SCOTTISH TRADITIONAL BOAT FESTIVAL Launch yourself into some maritime delights Celebrating their 21st anniversary this year, the Scottish Traditional Boat Festival is a recognition of Scottish culture taking in food, music, crafts and even a 10k run (or a 2k fun run for the less hardy) with a maritime theme, taking place within the picturesque harbour town of Portsoy.

The highlight of this Banff festival is the opportunity to participate or watch a number of informal sailing events featuring historic boats including the ‘Kipper Race’, a rowing regatta and the chance to learn how to scull a coracle. Local craftsmen will be demonstrating their skills and selling their wares.

The adventurous can give zorbing a try at the Sports Village on the banks of Loch Soy before refuelling their batteries at the Wally Green Food Fayre by tucking into the best of Scottish produce.

2014 also marks the opening of the PORT Boat Shed a ‘new home for traditional boat building and restoration’.

(Henry Northmore) ■ Various venues, Portsoy, 28–29 Jun, stbfportsoy.com 46

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A unique education festival developed and promoted by tthe sector agency College Development Network, aimed at challenging, provoking and generating ideas about how education could be.

10–22 JUNE

EDINBURGH FESTIVAL OF CYCLING OUTDOOR Various venues: Edinburgh, edfoc.org.uk

The bike festival lends a bit of sport to Edinburgh’s stacked arts and culture festival calendar.

Alongside cycling events, from lengthy scenic tours to talks from well-known cyclists to family bike rides, the festival also features a related film and art programme.

12–15 JUNE

KIRKCUDBRIGHT JAZZ FESTIVAL MUSIC Various venues: Kirkcudbright, kirkcudbrightjazzfestival.co.uk

The 17th Kirkcudbright Jazz Festival, like its predecessors, places the emphasis squarely on traditional jazz from ragtime to swing.

12–16 JUNE

BORDERS BOOK FESTIVAL LITERATURE Harmony Garden, St Mary’s Road, Melrose, info@bordersbookfestival.org, bordersbookfestival.org

Taking place in the National Trust’s Georgian Harmony Garden, in the heart of Melrose, the Borders Book Festival attracts world-class writers and

personalities and also hosts the £25,000 Walter Scott Prize for historical fiction awards. Last year witnessed guest appearances from Joanna Lumley, Phyllida Law, Kate Mosse, Hilary Mantel and plenty other big literary names.

13–15 JUNE

LOANHEAD MUSIC FESTIVAL MUSIC Various venues: Loanhead, info@loanheadfest.co.uk, loanheadfest.co.uk

Now in its 14th year, this local folk festival still emphasises pub sessions and a hot heap of fun. There are also open mic sessions, a craft fair and competitions for songwriting and the best recycled instrument.

Workshops in the miners’ club include accordion, songwriting, slide guitar, banjo, finger-style guitar and fiddle.

13–15 JUNE

THE EDEN FESTIVAL MULTI-ARTS Raehills Meadows, St Anns, Moffat, enquiries@edenfestival. co.uk, edenfestival.co.uk

A small and well-thought-out music fest with a varied line-up supported by family-friendly activities, exhibitions and cabaret and comedy tents.

13–15 JUNE

DUNDEE BEER FESTIVAL FOOD & DRINK Forthill Sports Club, Fintry Place, Broughty Ferry, Dundee, mail@thedundeebeerfestival. co.uk, thedundeebeerfestival.co.uk

Live music, sporting activities and lots of beer over three days.

Event is run by the Dundee Round Table with all proceeds going towards The Brae who provide horse riding therapy for disabled adults and kids.

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13–15 JUNE

FYNEFEST MULTI-ARTS Fyne Ales, Achadunan, Cairndow, elaine@fyneales. com, fynefest.com

Beer is the star at Fyne Ales brewery with over 100 different beers from the UK’s best breweries available over the weekend, accompanied by an equally tempting music programme and food from a range of local producers (local as in venison burgers from the estate and fresh oysters collected from the loch).

13–15 JUNE

DUNOON FILM FESTIVAL FILM & TV Various venues: Dunoon, dunoonfilmfestival.org

A new boutique festival celebrating Scotland at the movies with classic titles featuring major homegrown stars, rediscovered gems and new work by Scottish directors.

14–22 JUNE

LEITH FESTIVAL HERITAGE Various venues: Leith, Edinburgh, leithfestival.com

The vibrant community of Leith shows off its festival skills with a fun-packed programme of events. Among the line-up of exhibitions, concerts, walks, talks and films is the anticipated Leith Festival Gala Day and Pageant (14 Jun) and the closing Tattoo (22 Jun).

14 JUNE

ST MONANS SEA QUEEN DAY COMMUNITY / FAMILY Various venues: St Monans, Anstruther, stmonans.org.uk 48

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A fun-filled family day, the highlight is the arrival of the Sea Queen Party onboard a restored antique sail-boat, while dockside there are stalls, a mini fairground and live music.

14–15 JUNE

CRAIL FOOD FESTIVAL FOOD & DRINK Various venues: Crail, info@crailfoodfest.co.uk, crailfoodfest.co.uk

Food and music meet in this local festival. For the foodies there’s the Taste of Fife with a producers’ market, cookery demonstrations and evening supper, while music fans can expect some top Scottish names. For the children there’s a harbour festival.

15–21 JUNE

PEEBLES BELTANE FESTIVAL MUSIC / HERITAGE Various venues: Peebles, peeblesbeltanefestival.co.uk

Local legend, history and tradition combine for this annual festival celebrating summer. Services, discos and concerts are topped off with a Crowning Ceremony and Grand Procession to mark the beginning of summer.

16–22 JUNE

REFUGEE WEEK SCOTLAND MULTI-ARTS Various venues: Glasgow, Glasgow, refugeeweekscotland.com

This annual week-long festival of arts and cultural events and activities celebrates the contribution of refugees to our communities and promotes better understanding of why some people have to seek sanctuary.

16–22 JUNE

HORSECROSS YOUTH ARTS FESTIVAL MULTI-ARTS Various venues: Perth, horsecross.co.uk A festival by children and young people for children and young people featuring performances and showcases by Horsecross Arts Join In groups (including Perth Youth Theatre, Horsecross Glee, Perth Youth Dance Company and many more) and performances by professional theatre and dance companies for children and young people.

18–29 JUNE

EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL FILM & TV Various venues: Edinburgh, info@edfilmfest.org.uk, edfilmfest.org.uk

The oldest continually running film festival in the world, the Edinburgh International Film Festival draws on its prestige to consistently present abundant programmes of new features, documentaries, retrospectives, shorts, panel discussions and educational workshops, with a few high profile premieres thrown in for good measure.

18–20 JUNE

REWIND SCOTLAND: THE 80S FESTIVAL MUSIC Scone Palace, Scone, Perth, scotland@rewindfestival.com, rewindfestival.com

Rewind goes large on nostalgia with the biggest line-up of 80s artists to perform together in Scotland.

19–22 JUNE

SKYE STORYTELLING FESTIVAL AND GLENDALE GATHERING LITERATURE LIST.CO.UK/FESTIVALS

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Various venues: Highlands, scottishstorytellingcentre.co.uk The festival starts off from Edinburgh by bus and makes its way to various literary landmarks in the Highlands before alighting on Skye for walks, stories, music and a ceilidh.

19–22 JUNE

THE ROYAL HIGHLAND SHOW FOOD & DRINK / MUSIC / HERITAGE Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston, Edinburgh, ShowDept@rhass.org.uk, royalhighlandshow.org

Part agricultural show, part food festival, part family fun day out, with everything from motor, equine and craft programmes to food and drink and children’s activities.

19–23 JUNE

MORAY WALKING FESTIVAL OUTDOOR Various venues: Moray, moraywalkingfestival.co.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.

20-26 JUNE

ST MAGNUS INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL MUSIC Various venues: Kirkwall, info@stmagnusfestival.com, stmagnusfestival.com

A highly prestigious music festival that brings international orchestras, recitalists, theatre and literature to the Orkney Islands for a week around midsummer and is renowned for its unique blend of world-class performance and community participation.

ISLE OF GIGHA MUSIC FESTIVAL Fun-loving folk on the tiny island A tiny island off the west coast of Kintyre with a population of 160, Gigha has been booming – in relative terms, of course – since the inhabitants managed to effect a community buyout in 2002. One of the key symptoms of the community’s newfound confidence is the success of the Isle of Gigha Music Festival, an event which combines the heart of Scottish folk and traditional music with a young at heart, fun loving sensibility.

A lot of the main names for this year have been announced already, with Friday presenting a supper and ceilidh hosted by the pipes, fiddle and guitar combination of the Scott Wood Trio, led

by Red Hot Chili Pipers member and 2013 Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year finalist. Renowned broadcaster Mary Ann Kennedy is also on the bill.

Saturday daytime will see a bunch of workshops being held, including singing and fiddle events, before an evening concert headlined by Dumfries and Galloway folk singer Emily Smith (pictured) and the Treacherous Orchestra. Sunday is headlined simply ‘survivor’s night’, and with a continuing mission to beat the previous year’s Strip the Willow records, it’s probably well-named.

For those who want to explore the island while they’re on it, Achamore Gardens is a popular attraction, as well as the numerous beaches and the nine-hole golf course. (David Pollock) ■ Various venues, Isle of Gigha, Argyll and Bute, 27–29 Jun, gigha.org.uk 49

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Tarbert Traditional Boat Festival and Loch Fyne Viking Festival

20–22 JUNE

FRECKFEST MUSIC Magnum Leisure Centre, Harbourside, Irvine, freckfest.co.uk

An all-out music festival paying tribute to Willie Freckleton, a renowned and much-loved music promoter in Irvine, who spent his career ensuring all the best bands stopped off there.

20–22 JUNE

SOLAS FESTIVAL MULTI-ARTS Various venues: Perth, info@ solasfestival.co.uk, solasfestival.co.uk

An age-free arts festival with music, literature and spoken word, visual art and crafts, film and theatre as well as a programme of talks and debates.

20–22 JUNE

WEE FESTIVAL OF WORDS LITERATURE Various venues: Dunbar, hannah@appletreewriters.co.uk, 50

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dunbarliteraryfestival.co.uk This year’s focus is women’s stories and the woods, with many unique and exciting events planned celebrating words in poetry, prose and song featuring both local, national and international writers, poets and singer songwriters.

The 2013 festival featured Leo Blanco, the Blind Boys of Alabama and Georgie Fame.

21 JUNE

Staging a mix of professional and youth theatre shows alongside community events and exhibitions, this Inveruriebased theatre festival aims to foster new talent by providing training opportunities in a range of theatre skills.

LAIRG MUSIC FESTIVAL MUSIC Lairg Community Centre, Main Street, Lairg, lairgcommunitycentre.com

A day packed with competitions for all ages in fiddle, accordion, piano and bands.

25 JUNE–6 JULY

GARIOCH THEATRE FESTIVAL FAMILY / THEATRE & DANCE Various venues: Inverurie, gariochtheatrefestival.org.uk

25–30 JUNE

GLASGOW INTERNATIONAL JAZZ FESTIVAL

TARBERT TRADITIONAL BOAT FESTIVAL AND LOCH FYNE VIKING FESTIVAL

MUSIC Various venues: Glasgow, jazzfest.co.uk

FOOD & DRINK / HERITAGE Various venues: Tarbert, Loch Fyne, mallemok@live.co.uk

The Glasgow Jazz Festival has hosted some of the biggest names in jazz, including Miles Davis and Sarah Vaughan.

Enjoy the spectacle of a harbour filled with 40 traditional boats (including a full size replica Viking longship) from

25–29 JUNE

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across the UK, plus stalls, games, woodworking and boat building demonstrations, traditional music and more.

international blues artists play, and watching is completely free of charge.

27–29 JUNE

27–29 JUNE

LES-FEST

ISLE OF GIGHA MUSIC FESTIVAL

MUSIC Valley International Park, Crossford Clyde Valley, Carluke, info@les-fest.co.uk, les-fest.co.uk

FAMILY / MUSIC Various venues: Isle of Gigha, Hebridean Islands, flit@gigha.org.uk

See panel, p49.

27 JUNE–4 JULY

EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL MAGIC FESTIVAL THEATRE & DANCE Various venues: Edinburgh, info@magicfest.co.uk, magicfest.co.uk

MagicFest pulls another rabbit out of the hat with a programme of close-up conundrums, mindboggling illusions, comic cabaret and other feats of the impossible.

27 JUNE–7 JULY

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

World-class, criticallyacclaimed music, art and literature converge on this corner of Fife. Though chamber music remains at the heart of the programme, the festival’s most varied selection yet includes musical surprises, international authors and imaginative art-works, all located in quirky venues.

Scotland throws up the devil horns for its only award-winning rock and metal festival as it enters its third year. A variety of UK and European acts grace the Main Stage and Rock for Fund Stage, which showcases unplugged, acoustic and blues based acts.

27–29 JUNE

FALKLAND TRADITIONAL MUSIC FESTIVAL MUSIC Various venues: Falkland, facebook.com/FalklandTradFest

A weekend of traditional music, folk, ceilidhs, workshops and sessions for trad connoiseurs and newbies alike.

28 JUNE–5 JULY

HARRIS ARTS FESTIVAL MULTI-ARTS Various venues: Outer Hebrides, info@harrisarts.org, harrisarts.org

This festival displays the Hebrides’ passion and aptitide for luring arts fans to idyllic locations and rewarding them with a showcase of professional performances and some local artistry.

27–29 JUNE

THE DUNDEE BLUES BONANZA MUSIC Various venues: Dundee, admin@dundeebluesbonanza. co.uk, dundeebluesbonanza.co.uk

A host of local and

28–29 JUNE

SCOTTISH TRADITIONAL BOAT FESTIVAL MULTI-ARTS Various venues: Portsoy, Aberdeenshire, stbfportsoy.com

See panel, p46.

JULY JULY, DATES TBC

AUCHINLECK ALIVE AND KICKING FESTIVAL MULTI-ARTS Various venues: Auchinleck, info@auchinleckfestival.co.uk, auchinleckfestival.co.uk

Concerts by mainstream folk and rock and pop covers bands, as well as a daytime programme of art exhibitions, craft fairs and family activities.

1 JULY–25 AUGUST

FEIS AN EILEAN MUSIC / HERITAGE SEALL at Sabhal Mor Ostaig, Sleat, Isle of Skye, smo.uhi. ac.uk/en

Summer arts festival celebrating traditional Scottish music on the Isle of Skye. Interspersed with history and archaeology walks, charity cafes, whisky tasting, open galleries and artist events.

2 JULY

EARLY YEARS FESTIVAL MULTI-ARTS Various venues: East Renfrewshire, whatsoneastrenfrewshire.co.uk

Babies and toddlers rule the roost at this multi-arts festival dedicated to little ones with a programme of visual art, theatre, movement, sport, film and more.

4–7 JULY

NATIONAL FESTIVAL OF YOUTH THEATRE FAMILY / THEATRE & DANCE Rothes Halls, Kingdom Centre, Glenrothes, nfyt.tumblr.com

A colourful programme of performances and special events showcasing the creative work of youth theatre groups from across Scotland and further afield, plus a programme of over 40 workshops.

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4–13 JULY

UNSTFEST MUSIC Various venues: Unst, info@unstfest.org, unstfest.org

Britain’s most northerly festival on Britain’s most northerly island is a familyfriendly affair with fiddle workshops, go kart races, film screenings and live music worth travelling for.

4–6 JULY

NEWCASTLETON TRADITIONAL MUSIC FESTIVAL FAMILY / MUSIC Various venues: Newcastleton, ntmfsecretary@gmail.com, newcastleton.com

T IN THE PARK More than just a great music festival Over the last 20 years, T in the Park has built itself up to become a worldwide contender on the global festival circuit. Starting with a capacity of just 17,000 back in 1994 (headlined by Rage Against the Machine and Blur), 2013’s festival boasted a capacity of 85,000 people per day with well over 100 acts playing across ten stages.

It’s almost easier to list who hasn’t played T than who has. 2013’s line-up was headlined by Mumford & Sons, Rihanna and the Killers but everyone from the Who and James Brown to Oasis and Coldplay have performed on Balado’s hallowed turf.

T in the Park’s all-inclusive policy means you can be watching hip hop one minute, rock the next, followed by pop then end your day with a night of heady dance beats. To that end, the Slam dance tent is world class having featured performances from Daft Punk, Orbital and Richie Hawtin since the Glasgow DJ duo started working with the festival in 1997. And there’s even a ceilidh tent if you want some more traditional fare.

It’s not all about the music (though with the early announcement of Arctic Monkeys as headliners, that part of the deal is shaping up nicely) as there’s now cabaret, market stalls, funfair rides and good grub on offer in the Healthy T zone. Not forgetting the Scots famed love of a party: ‘I don’t think there’s anything quite like it in Europe,’ said Kasabian’s Tom Meighan after headlining in 2012. ‘They just got something about them, the jocks. They’re amazing.’

(Henry Northmore) ■ Balado, Kinross, 11–13 Jul, tinthepark.com 52

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Family-focused festival of traditional music, with workshops, ceilidhs, concerts and adult and children’s competitions. An attitude of hands-on music making is encouraged.

4–6 JULY

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

See panel, p45.

5–6 JULY

TARBERT SEAFOOD FESTIVAL FOOD & DRINK Various venues: Tarbert, Loch Fyne, tarbertfestivals.co.uk

An opportunity to sample the internationally renowned seafood (and other types of cuisine) from the waters of Loch Fyne. Off-menu there is a parade of decorated floats after which the Seafood Queen is crowned, and music on the Sunday.

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5–6 JULY

6–11 JULY

12–13 JULY

KELSO BIKEFEST

CEOLAS

FOOD & DRINK / MUSIC/ OUTDOOR Border Union Showground, Springwood Park, Kelso, thebmfshow.co.uk

MUSIC Various venues: South Uist, info@ceolas.co.uk, ceolas.co.uk

DUNFERMLINE BRUCE FESTIVAL FAMILY / HERITAGE Pittencrieff Park, Dewar Street, Dunfermline, dunfermlinedelivers@btconnect.com, brucefestival.co.uk

5–11 JULY

Annual summer school focusing on the connections between Scottish traditional music, Gaelic song and dance, with expert tuition and workshops plus lectures, demonstrations, concerts and ceilidhs, all in the spectacular surroundings of South Uist.

SHETLAND NATURE FESTIVAL

6–12 JULY

Dunfermline, home to the story of Robert the Bruce as well as the legendary king’s grave, hosts a weekend of historical activities and re-enactments with a strong family feel.

MENDELSSOHN ON MULL

16–19 JULY

Massive motorcycle show with custom and road bikes, large trade area, club displays and entertainment with live music.

OUTDOOR Various venues: Shetland, snf@shetlandamenity.org, shetlandnaturefestival.co.uk

From puffins to killer whales, otters to Britain’s rarest flowers, Shetland is a cornucopia of wildlife and this festival wants everybody to know – and experience it first hand – with a series of guided walks, family days out and evening talks.

MUSIC Various venues: Mull, Iona and Oban, mendelssohnonmull.com

6–11 JULY

A classical music festival in which young musicians are mentored by older professionals in the arcane craft of chamber music-making. The festival is composed of a series of free concerts played in venues throughout the wonderful Mull, Iona and Oban.

CANTILENA FESTIVAL ON ISLAY

10–13 JULY

MUSIC Various venues: Isle of Islay, info@cantilena.co.uk, cantilenafestival.co.uk

The beautiful island of Islay plays host to a repertoire of world-class classical music. Focusing on collaboration, education and creativity, the festival encourages participants to push their boundaries, and this is echoed in a summer school that allows local young musicians to work with established creative practitioners. The 2014 Festival may be a poignant occasion as it’s in memory of the festival’s founder and artistic director Adrian Shepherd, who died in the summer of 2013.

STONEHAVEN FOLK FESTIVAL MUSIC Stonehaven Town Hall, Allardice Street, Stonehaven, enquiries@ stonehavenfolkfestival.co.uk, stonehavenfolkfestival.co.uk

A line-up combining old favourites and exciting new acts in a programme of concerts, ceilidh, workshops, sessions and the Tradition Bearers Concert, as well as some more unusual events like the World Paper ‘n’ Comb Championships and the Aqua Ceilidh.

11–13 JULY

T IN THE PARK MUSIC Balado Park, Kinross, tinthepark.com

See panel, p52.

HEBRIDEAN CELTIC FESTIVAL MUSIC Various venues: Outer Hebrides, office@hebceltfest. com, hebceltfest.com

See panel, p54.

17–28 JULY

EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL FASHION FESTIVAL ART Various venues: Edinburgh, edinburghinternational fashionfestival.com

A festival incorporating runway shows and glam after-parties, plus more intellectual talks on fashion-linked topics.

18–20 JULY

LOSSIEMOUTH FOLK CLUB FESTIVAL MUSIC Beach Bar, Commerce Street, Lossiemouth, lossiefolkclub. co.uk

The epitome of chilled festivals, the Lossiemouth Folk Club Fest encourages performers to come and play ‘for the craic’ in the spirit of celebrating traditional music and tales. The entertainment’s free, with performers rewarded with a great atmosphere at this small festival by the sea.

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18–27 JULY

EDINBURGH JAZZ AND BLUES FESTIVAL

COLIN CAMERON

MUSIC Various venues: Edinburgh, fiona@adjazz.co.uk, edinburghjazzfestival.com

SPOTLIGHT ON . . .

HEBRIDEAN CELTIC FESTIVAL Platforming international stars and local heroes A combination of unique setting, music and community spirit make this crossgenerational family-friendly festival get better and better every year. Founded in 1996, Hebridean Celtic Festival takes place predominately at a big blue marquee in the picturesque grounds of Lews Castle, overlooking Stornoway Harbour.

But you’ll find other associated events happening across the Outer Hebrides, creating a party befitting the distinctive culture that make the islands so very special.

Headliners to have graced the main tent hub include Van Morrison, Runrig, the Levellers and KT Tunstall, and the calibre should be every bit as high in 2014.

As well as the big names, HebCelt is also a great place to catch fast-rising young Scottish artists in an intimate atmosphere, with the likes of Fatherson, Rachel Sermanni, AMWWF and Kassidy all having appeared in recent years. (Malcolm Jack) ■ Various venues, Outer Hebrides, 16–19 Jul, hebceltfest. com 54

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Scotland’s biggest jazz festival presents over 140 concerts in ten days all over the capital, in parks, churches, clubs and concert halls. With a programme featuring all jazz styles from early jazz to the avant garde, the EJ&BF usually manages to secure some world premières, new bands and collaborations.

18–20 JULY

TIREE MUSIC FESTIVAL FAMILY / MUSIC An Talla, Isle of Tiree, tireemusicfestival.co.uk

Folk and trad music are the stars at this festival, which was voted Best Small Festival at the Scottish Event Awards in 2012 and 2013. The tiny Hebridean island, nicknamed the ‘Hawaii of the North’, plays host to a weekend of genre-spanning sounds as well as family activities and fringe events.

Last year’s line-up included Capercaillie, Roddy Hart & the Lonesome Fire, Skerryvore and Washington Irving.

18–20 JULY

THE HOWLIN’ FLING MUSIC Various venues: Isle of Eigg, lostmap.com

Micro-label Lost Map host a festival on the Hebridean Isle of Eigg. Ticket holders are ferried over from the mainland for three days of live music and DJs culminating in a big bonfire and sing song on Sunday evening.

All the artists on Lost Map’s roster are performing, as well as some special guests. Previous invitees have included Django Django, Twilight Sad and British Sea Power. If you fancy a break

from the music the organisers are keen to get people exploring the teeny island and have laid on treks up The Sgurr and trips to the best beaches.

19–27 JULY

MUSIC AT PAXTON MUSIC Paxton House and Country Park, Paxton, Berwick upon Tweed, info@musicatpaxton.co.uk, musicatpaxton.co.uk

Top quality international chamber music in the beautiful surroundings of Paxton House, an 18th century Palladian Country House near Berwick. In 2014, the featured performers include Chiaroscuro Quartet, keyboard virtuoso Mahan Esfahani; the Edinburgh Quartet with clarinettist Maximilliano Martin; percussionists O Duo, Pure Brass and many more.

There’s also an international showcase of Live Music Now musicians presented in partnership with Live Music Now Scotland.

19 JULY–3 AUGUST

FESTIVAL 2014 MULTI-ARTS Various venues: Glasgow, glasgow2014.com/culture

Transforming the city during the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, Festival 2014 sees Glasgow burst into life with an invigorating mix of entertainment, culture and enjoyment. See feature, p10.

20–21 JULY

SALTCOATS QUEEN OF THE SEA FESTIVAL COMMUNITY Town Centre, Saltcoats

A parade through the town and the coronation of this year’s Queen of the Sea, plus stalls, face painting, an owl display, kids activities and a whole lot more fun for all the family.

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21 JULY–3 AUGUST

THE TIN FOREST

The Wickerman Festival

MUSIC / THEATRE & DANCE Various venues: Glasgow, nationaltheatrescotland.com

A welcome celebration of Glasgow’s important industrial past and exciting creative future inspired by the book

by Helen Ward and Wayne Anderson. Featuring site-specific community performances led

by Graham McLaren and Simon Sharkey.

23 JULY–2 AUGUST

CRAIL FESTIVAL MULTI-ARTS Various venues: Crail, crailfestival@gmail.com, crailfestival.co.uk

As well as musical entertainment, the Crail Festival features art, drama, theatre and outdoor activities including a sandcastle competition and rock pool guddle, for both adults and children.

23 JULY–3 AUGUST

SURGE FAMILY / THEATRE & DANCE Various venues: Merchant City, Glasgow, karenveitch@conflux.co.uk, conflux.co.uk

A festival dedicated to physical performance, incorporating outdoor, site-specific events for all ages and indoor showcases of performance art. Workshops and masterclasses are also provided for those wanting to develop their talents. In collaboration with Merchant City Festival and Roofless.

24 JULY–3 AUGUST

MERCHANT CITY FESTIVAL MULTI-ARTS Various venues: Merchant City, Glasgow, merchantcityfestival.com

Glasgow’s swanky part of town continues to round together

culture in its diverse festival.

Previous years have seen comedy, theatre and art events cramming themselves into the area’s fashionable buildings, while street performers add to the festival atmosphere.

info@thewickermanfestival. co.uk, thewickermanfestival.co.uk See panel, p56.

25–27 JULY

FILM & TV Various venues: Highlands, lochnessfilmfestival@hotmail. com, lochnessfilmfestival.co.uk

UGIE FOLK FESTIVAL MUSIC Various venues: Aberdeenshire, press_officer@ugiefolk.co.uk, ugiefolk.co.uk

A small, intimate and friendly celebration of folk with concerts, pub folk nights and sessions.

25–26 JULY

THE WICKERMAN FESTIVAL MUSIC East Kirkcarswell Farm, Dundrennan, Kirkcudbright,

25–27 JULY

LOCH NESS FILM FESTIVAL

An independent, grassroots festival in a truly unique location. This year, the event features the best short films from around Scotland, the UK and abroad as well as two independent Scottish features and, for the very first time, a guerrilla film workshop in which a short film will be created on the day from facebook and twitter suggestions.

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25 JULY–10 AUGUST

25 JULY–2 AUGUST

ABOYNE AND DEESIDE FESTIVAL

ABERDEEN INTERNATIONAL YOUTH FESTIVAL

MULTI-ARTS Various venues: Aboyne & Deeside, info@aboyneanddeesidefestival. org.uk, aboyneanddeesidefestival. org.uk

SPOTLIGHT ON . . .

THE WICKERMAN FESTIVAL Music fest with glowing reviews While T in the Park lords it up as the big daddy of Scottish music festivals, and RockNess continues to plough a dependable furrow, Wickerman manages to tick a couple of more esoteric boxes: our desire for musical excellence and our desire to set things on fire.

Success on the first front comes from combining mid-level mainstage crowdpleasers with some of the finest Scottish up-andcoming talent. Primal Scream, Chic (feat Nile Rodgers) and Dexys were among the 2013 acts that fell into the former category, with new talent represented by the likes of Honeyblood, Three Blind Wolves and Machines in Heaven.

More stages are dedicated to punk, dance, and folk, further demonstrating that there’s something for everyone.

Success on the second front, meanwhile, comes from having a ruddy giant man in flames on the Saturday night.

(Niki Boyle) ■ East Kirkcarswell Farm, Dundrennan, 25–26 Jul, thewickermanfestival.co.uk 56

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A small yet diverse festival that offers an eclectic selection of classical, folk and contemporary music, politics, thought, art, drama, literature and film.

The 2013 festival featured such diverse performers as Conservative grandee Michael Portillo and maverick pianist Huw Warren.

25–27 JULY

SPEYFEST MUSIC Various venues: Fochabers, info@speyfest. com, speyfest.com

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. The festival line-up features some of the biggest names from the worlds of Scottish traditional and contemporary music.

25–27 JULY

SOUTHERN FRIED FESTIVAL MUSIC Perth Concert Hall, Mill Street, Perth, info@horsecross.co.uk, southernfriedfestival.co.uk

Scotland’s festival of American roots music covers all the American Roots music bases, including blues, country, cajun, gospel, swing and soul. Fill up on workshops, free gigs, local bands and their legendary soul food.

MULTI-ARTS Various venues: Aberdeen, info@aiyf.org, aiyf.org

Classical and chamber music, contemporary and traditional dance, jazz and theatre are all on offer here from a cast of rising international and local stars, with companies travelling from the USA, Russia, Middle East, Africa and Asia to perform.

24-26 JULY

PENTLANDS WALKING FESTIVAL OUTDOOR Various venues: Pentlands, pentlandhills.org

A weekend of summer walks and activities for all ages from the teddy bear walk to climbing the ridge. Being centred on the Pentland Hills means there’s always the prospect of glorious views to spur you on.

31 JULY–31 AUGUST

EDINBURGH ART FESTIVAL ART Various venues: Edinburgh, info@edinburghartfestival. com, edinburghartfestival. com

Scotland’s largest annual celebration of visual art offers work by the best contemporary Scottish artists as well as exhibitions of the most important international artists and movements of the 20th century and other historical periods. This year marks the tenth edition of the festival, which will include over 40 exhibitions and reveal new public artworks around the city. Even better, many of the events are free.

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Pittenweem

Arts Festival August 2-10 2014

www.pittenweemartsfestival.co.uk

Steven Campbell Dugald MacInnes Dugald MacInnes Marian Leven For 32 years up to 100 artists

have exhibited their art & craft in homes and every possible venue in the fishing village of Pittenweem

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AUGUST AUGUST, DATES TBC

MEARNS CONNECTIONS FESTIVAL LITERATURE / MUSIC The Grassic Gibbon Centre, Arbuthnott, Laurencekirk, mearnsconnections.com

A civilised celebration of Lewis Grassic Gibbon, Robert Burns and Joan Eardley, with a programme of performances, concerts and dinners with entertainment.

AUGUST, DATES TBC

TURING FESTIVAL SCIENCE Various venues: Edinburgh, turingfestival.com

DARE PROTOPLAY

Amidst the cornucopia of arts events in Edinburgh in August, this festival billing itself as the European SXSW focuses on technology and can be relied upon for some appearances by big names from the digital community.

Four-day fest for game connoisseurs 1–23 AUGUST As part of Homecoming Scotland 2014, Dare ProtoPlay will once again light up the city of discovery, with an array of games, learning and events. More than 10,000 people are expected to drop in to Dundee’s Caird Hall over the course of four days for this joint venture from Abertay University and Dundee City Council, which has been platforming the games industry each year since 2007.

As the finale of the renowned Dare to Be Digital video game design competition, Dare ProtoPlay features free family fun, new video games and a chance to discover the skills needed to develop a career in the computer games industry. As well as a chance to view the result of student endeavours, various games companies will be displaying their own wares.

Full details of the festival’s programme will emerge later in the year, but if 2013 is anything to go by, it should be a corking event.

Last August, there were opportunities for the public to test out new games which were eligible for the BAFTA Ones to Watch award and the inaugural Dare Indie Fest, a new conference for independent developers, took place. Plus, there were workshops for different age brackets, a Q&A titled ‘Women in Games’, a showcase on how to design games for the visually impaired, and the National Theatre of Scotland got involved with Other, an ‘alternate reality sound game’ which led you through the streets of Dundee and into the city’s dark side. (Brian Donaldson) ■ Caird Hall, Dundee, 7–10 August, daretobedigital.com/212_DareProtoPlay 58

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THE ROYAL EDINBURGH MILITARY TATTOO MUSIC / HERITAGE Edinburgh Castle, Royal Mile, Edinburgh, tickets@edintattoo.co.uk, edintattoo.co.uk

This unique event that draws crowds (and performers) from all over the world with massed pipes and drums, massed military bands, display teams, dancers and the haunting lament of the Lone Piper set against the magnificent backcloth of Edinburgh Castle.

1–25 AUGUST

JUST FESTIVAL POLITICS / ART Various venues: Edinburgh, info@justjust.co.uk, justjust.org

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of Spirituality and Peace, the 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.

1–25 AUGUST

EDINBURGH FESTIVAL FRINGE MULTI-ARTS Various venues: Edinburgh, admin@edfringe.com, edfringe.com

The largest arts festival in the world and the greatest show on earth. Every year thousands of performers take to a multitude of stages all over Edinburgh to present shows for every taste. From all the big names in the world of entertainment to unknown artists looking to build their careers, the festival caters for everyone and includes theatre, comedy, dance, physical theatre, musicals, operas, music, exhibitions and events.

2–3 AUGUST

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

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

2–10 AUGUST

PITTENWEEM ARTS FESTIVAL ART 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 over 100 artists from all over Britain exhibit their work in houses, garages, halls and shops, and on the pier.

3–10 AUGUST

7–10 AUGUST

SHETLAND FIDDLE FRENZY

DARE PROTOPLAY

MUSIC Various venues: Shetland, info@shetlandarts.org, shetlandarts.org/events/ fiddle-frenzy

A week-long summer school and festival celebrating the music and the musicians that have led Shetland to become one of the world’s most highly acclaimed fiddle playing regions. As well as music classes and concerts, it offers classes in drawing and painting, and traditional knitting techniques, as well as cultural trips around the islands.

4–10 AUGUST

FRINGE BY THE SEA MULTI-ARTS Various venues: North Berwick, info@fringebythesea.com, 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 a respite from the madness of Edinburgh in festival season.

4–8 AUGUST

ALOUD – INKY FINGERS MINIFEST LITERATURE Various venues: Edinburgh, inkyfingersedinburgh@gmail. com, inkyfingers.org.uk

Grassroots performance poetry maestros Inky Fingers are pleased to bring their minifest back for another year, with a programme that celebrates the spoken word in all its forms: slams, storytelling, open mics, some interactive artworks, a bunch of cabaret events and a host of other Inky Fingers happenings.

FAMILY / SCIENCE Caird Hall, City Square, Dundee, enquiries@daretobedigital. com, dareprotoplay.com

See panel, p58.

8–10 AUGUST

AUCHTERMUCHTY FESTIVAL MUSIC / HERITAGE Various venues: Auchtermuchty, eric_titterington@hotmail.com, auchtermuchty-festival.org.uk

Traditional music and folk are the double-whammy focus of this top festival, which offers a series of ceilidhs, concerts, dances, competitions and workshops with a hearty line-up of prestigious guests as well as local, up-and-coming musical talent. Some informal sessions will allow visitors and musicians of all abilities to join in, so bring along your instrument of choice and prepare to play your heart out.

8–10 AUGUST

WHISKY FRINGE FOOD & DRINK Mansfield Traquair, 15 Mansfield Place, Edinburgh, info@royalmilewhiskies.com, royalmilewhiskies.com

Held in the truly magnificent Mansfield Traquair, this is the much-anticipated annual event from the Royal Mile Whiskies.

In previous years, tickets for this celebration of the water of life, which features around 26 exhibitor stands and over 200 whiskies to sample each day, have sold out in less than 20 minutes. That’s what they call a hot ticket. But if you’re lucky enough to be going along, there once again promises to be a huge range of whiskies and rums to get stuck into. Sláinte everyone!

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ARTS ATTACK Malcolm Jack stares in awe at the plethora of festivals which Edinburgh gives to the world every single year

N

ot called the Festival City for nothing, Edinburgh will host no less than a dozen major festivals this year, many of them in August when a conflux of international arts happenings bring the world’s cultural spotlight to the Scottish capital. But 2014 should be an especially fascinating year, as the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow presents a sporting challenge to Edinburgh’s summertime cultural hegemony, and the independence referendum in September sparks a momentous political debate with which the various festivals may, or may not, choose to engage.

The undisputed big daddy of them all as ever is the Edinburgh Fringe in August: not just the biggest of Edinburgh’s festivals, but the biggest arts festival in the world, period.

A performance blockbuster of music, dance, theatre and comedy which was founded in 1947, its open programming policy gives the threeweek city-wide arts showcase a unique feeling of experimentation, discovery and accessibility.

2013 was another record-breaking year for the Fringe, with nearly two million tickets sold for more than 45,000 performances of over 2871 shows. With the Commonwealth Games on Edinburgh’s doorstep, will 2014 halt the Fringe’s stratospheric rise? Organisers will no doubt pull out all the stops to make sure it doesn’t, as every venue, pub back-room and pavement becomes a potential stage. There’s genuinely nothing quite like it.

Before that in April, the Edinburgh International Science Festival will kick off another festivals year, with its usual mix of talks, tours, exhibitions and events attracting 60

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boffins of all ages. The world’s first science festival and one of the largest in Europe, it celebrates all the inspiring wonder of science, and reflects Edinburgh’s important position as an ‘Ideopolis’ city of true globe-leading innovation in academic fields from informatics to stem cell research.

Getting the summer festivals season started, the Edinburgh International Film Festival will return for its 68th edition in June. After a toug tough transitional period in recent yea years, it was back on a strong foot footing in 2013, with a mixture of glitzy premières, cutting-edge proj projects and unique collaborations, ofte featuring famous faces from often thr throughout the cinema world.

T The full programme will be ann announced in the spring, but one ele element already made public is EI EIFF’s part in the McLaren 2014 Ce Centenary Celebrations. This Sc Scotland-wide project marks the ce centenary of trailblazing artist, an animator and musician Norman M McLaren.

Welcoming international a and local players across the fu spectrum of styles from full traditional to experimental, the Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival dominates late July aand begins the run-in to the w wonderful madness of August.

T The Edinburgh Art Festival i the visual art strand of the is c city’s warm-season cultural b bonanza.

The biggest event of i kind in Scotland, it features its a wide range of exhibitions u utilising all the potential of E Edinburgh’s many world-class ggalleries, as well as several specially-commissioned ppieces of public art, such as tw two 2013 highlights: Robert M Montgomery’s dramatic Fire P Poem on the Mound or Sarah K Kenchington’s Wind Pipes for E Edinburgh.

Partially running alongside the Fringe in August is its high-arts antecedent, the Edinburgh International Festival. This sophisticated and cutting-edge gala of large-scale theatre, opera, classical music and dance performances takes place at some of the city’s most prestigious venues. EIF has declared its intention not to engage overtly with the independence referendum conversation, and instead focus on a programme exploring broader themes of nationalism and nationhood, a decision which in itself has been subject of heated discussion.

The Edinburgh International Book Festival – the world’s largest literary gathering, and feather in the cap of Edinburgh’s status as UNESCO City of Literature – has meanwhile declared its intention to act as a key forum for the yes/ no debate, as famous authors, poets and thinkers of all persuasions and perspectives descend on Charlotte Square. As for the Festival of Politics, there’ll be no avoiding arguments on the big ‘I’ at this long-weekend of talks, workshops and debates at the Holyrood Scottish Parliament building. Nary an angle on the subject of Scotland’s biggest political decision in hundreds of years will be left unexplored.

An excuse for a peaced-out weekend of cultural and spiritual harmony and togetherness will probably be much-needed by the end of August, and the Edinburgh Mela will duly oblige. This multicultural extravaganza on Leith Links continues to expand and evolve into an event of real importance and vibrancy, with an increasing focus on original and innovative music and theatre. After an instalment beset by unseasonably adverse weather in 2013, the Mela is well-deserving of bright skies in 2014, and will no doubt seize its moment with a colourful array of performances, film, food and family activities.

Just when you thought Auld Reekie was done, right at the end of the calendar comes Edinburgh’s Hogmanay. Four days of celebrations taking place when the air is crisp and the city is arguably at its most beautiful, culminating with the world-famous Hogmanay celebrations on and around Princes Street. This winter warmer will ring out the old and usher in the new, as a year of exciting Edinburgh festivals ends while another begins.

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8–10 AUGUST

MIDLOTHIAN WALKING FESTIVAL FAMILY / OUTDOOR Various venues: Midlothian, midlothian.gov.uk

Belladrum, Inverness, info@tartanheartfestival.co.uk, tartanheartfestival.co.uk See panel, p67.

9–25 AUGUST

A range of activities take place over this three-day festival, from walking, cycling to horse riding.

Led by local experienced guides, there are morning, afternoon and evening activities. Please call for locations and times.

EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL BOOK FESTIVAL

8–31 AUGUST

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, and the recent innovation of Unbound, a free cabaret-style evening event ensures that the literary fun runs far into the night.

EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL MULTI-ARTS Various venues: Edinburgh, boxoffice@eif.co.uk, eif.co.uk

Bringing world-class arts to the capital since 1947, the EIF sets the standard for classical concerts, opera, dance and theatre, with performers drawn from around the world. While this year’s festival is curated around themes of the challenges, sacrifices and circumstances through which nations have emerged and cultures forged, it is from historical, international and contemporary perspectives and not an explicitly political one.

8–9 AUGUST

BELLADRUM TARTAN HEART FESTIVAL FAMILY / MUSIC

OTHER MAJOR EVENTS In addition to these festivals, there are many other major events taking place in August 2014 including: • Blair Castle International Horse Trials and Country Fair • Aboyne Highland Games • SSE Scottish Seniors For more details of these events see pages 20–23

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LITERATURE Charlotte Square Gardens, Charlotte Square, Edinburgh, admin@edbookfest.co.uk, edbookfest.co.uk

9–10 AUGUST

ARBROATH SEA FEST FOOD & DRINK Various venues: Arbroath, arbroathseafest.co.uk

Annual festival of maritime heritage, including the star of the show, the Smokie Trail – around 70 stalls packed with fresh seafood along the Arbroath harbour.

9–10 AUGUST

SAIL AND OAR FESTIVAL ON CUMBRAE HERITAGE Town Centre, Millport, Isle of Cumbrae, info@cumbraesailandoar.com, cumbraesailandoar. com

Not just for budding sailors, the Sail and Oar Festival offers a number of participatory water activities, Millport’s skiff racing championship plus music, crafts and children’s events.

11–17 AUGUST

PIPING LIVE! MUSIC Various venues: Glasgow, contact@pipinglive.co.uk, pipinglive.co.uk

It’s the tenth year of this annual week-long celebration of piping, including contemporary and traditional, solo and pipe bands and more. The World Pipe Band Championships take place on the second to last day at Glasgow Green, with free family displays in the George Square area.

11–13 AUGUST

GLENFARG FOLK FEAST FAMILY / MUSIC Various venues: Glenfarg, info@glenfargfolkclub.com, glenfargfolkclub.com/folkfeast. shtml

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

14–25 AUGUST

MARYMASS FESTIVAL FAMILY / HERITAGE Various venues: Irvine, marymass.com

Traditional and contemporary events including the Crowning of the Marymass Queen and the Marymass Folk Festival. This historic event dates back to the 17th century and celebrates history, tradition and heritage.

15–17 AUGUST

FESTIVAL OF POLITICS POLITICS Various venues: Edinburgh, festivalofpolitics.org.uk

A groundbreaking and innovative festival that combines the worlds of politics, media, culture and the arts.

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15–17 AUGUST

BON SCOTT FEST MUSIC Kirriemuir Town Hall, 28/30 Reform Street, Kirriemuir, dd8music@hotmail.co.uk, dd8music.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 front man Bon Scott.

15–17 AUGUST

CULROSS FESTIVAL MULTI-ARTS Abbey House, Kirk Street, Culross, ahm276@aol.com, culrossfestival.com

The Culross Festival has been bringing top UK and Scottish acts to the picturesque setting of Culross for over 20 years. The open-air lawn of Abbey House

and the presence of catering facilities lend themselves to a late summer picnic, and previous festivals have included Ruby Turner and Capercaillie.

index.html A celebration of emerging Scottish writing talent across all genres, inspired by the late great playwright Robert McLellan (1907-1985).

15–16 AUGUST

STOWED OUT FESTIVAL MUSIC Stow Quoiting Green, Stow, soundout.org.uk/stowedout-2014

This festival features an eclectic mix of local and established musical acts, craft stalls and storytellers on the banks of the Gala Water.

15 AUGUST–10 SEPTEMBER

MCLELLAN ARTS FESTIVAL MULTI-ARTS Various venues: Isle Of Arran, arranart.com/atat/

15–17 AUGUST

INNERLEITHEN MUSIC FESTIVAL MUSIC Various venues: Innerleithen, imfpublicity@aol.com, innerleithenmusicfestival.org

An established Celtic music festival that augments its line-up of local musicians, sessions, traditional singing, street events and workshops with international stars, who in the past have included Barbara Dickson, Capercaillie, Eddi Reader, Dougie MacLean and Battlefield Band.

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THE GUID GU GUIDE E TO SCOTLAND’S FESTIVALS 2014

SPOTLIGHT ON . . .

INVERNESS BOOK FESTIVAL A happy tenth anniversary for the Highlands book lovers’ festival The Inverness Book Festival will once more light up the Highlands with a feast of literary events at Eden Court Theatre, Scotland’s largest multi-arts centre.

2014 marks a decade since the first festival, and during that period the likes of James Kelman (pictured), Denise Mina, Richard Holloway, AL Kennedy and Christopher Brookmyre have all been enticed north, while the city’s finest contemporary scribe, Ali Smith, has previously made the trek back home from her Cambridge base.

The event is run in association with Sandstone Press, whose Managing Director, Robert Davidson, takes the reins on the IBF operation.

As well as an array of acclaimed authors, last year’s festival featured talks on ePublishing and the day-today life of a literary agent, plus there was an antiquarian books fair and creative crafts session.

(Brian Donaldson) ■ Eden Court Theatre, Inverness, 19–23 August, invernessbookfestival.co.uk 64

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116–17 AUGUST

22–24 AUGUST

S SCOTLAND’S FESTIVAL OF HISTORY O

STRATHAVEN BALLOON FESTIVAL

M MUSIC / HERITAGE Chatelherault Country Park, C Carlisle Road, Hamilton, C scotlandsfestivalofhistory@ s hotmail.co.uk, h scotlandsfestivalofhistory.co.uk s

FAMILY John Hastie Park, Lethame Road, Strathaven, strathavenballoonfestival.co.uk

T largest history and The rre-enactment festival in Scotland features more than S 500 costumed specialists from 5 across Europe to recreate 2000+ years of history from the Picts and Celts and Romans to WW1 and WW2.

16–18 AUGUST

TT16 FILM FESTIVAL FILM & TV cafébarge, The Harbour, Tarbert, tarbertfestivals.co.uk

An international hot air ballooning extravaganza, combining the stunning sight of hot air balloons launching and flying with a fun fair, stalls, classic vehicles and other evening events.

22–24 AUGUST

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

Annual festival of 16mm film projected inside an old Dutch barge.

A boutique music festival that manages a lovely line-up of music, theatre, comedy and spoken word performances.

19–23 AUGUST

22–31 AUGUST

INVERNESS BOOK FESTIVAL

PEEBLES ARTS FESTIVAL

LITERATURE Eden Court Theatre, Bishop’s Road, Inverness, marketing@eden-court.co.uk, invernessbookfestival.co.uk

MULTI-ARTS Various venues: Peebles, peeblesartsfestival@googlemail. com, peeblesartsfestival.org

See panel, left.

21–24 AUGUST

MULL OF KINTYRE MUSIC FESTIVAL MUSIC Various venues: Campbeltown, mokfest@hotmail.co.uk, mokfest.com

Traditional and contemporary Scottish and Irish music based in Campbeltown, Kintyre (The Cradle of the Nation) on the west coast of Scotland. The festival offers a mix of concerts, ceilidhs, music sessions, workshops, children’s entertainment, parades, cultural and heritage tours that make the most of the location.

The only cross-platform multiarts festival in the Borders.

The arts on offer include music by local performers, visual art representing the local area, author readings, newly-commissioned theatre performances, film, a crafts fair and tours with historical, humorous, musical, landscape and literary themes.

22–23 AUGUST

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

Stranraer Inshore Lifeboats adopt their land legs for a LIST.CO.UK/FESTIVALS

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For more information visit: www.shetlandarts.org/whats-on

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fundraising music festival featuring a range of local and familiar artists as well as craft stalls, fun fair rides and the Marine Lake with its pirate ship.

22–24 AUGUST

GRANITE CITY COUNTRY MUSIC FESTIVAL MUSIC Menzies Hotel, Farburn Terrace, Dyce

Hey y’all – it’s a country music festival, so time to dig out your best stetson and flannel shirt and enjoy the music.

22–24 AUGUST

BEYOND BORDERS INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF LITERATURE AND THOUGHT MULTI-ARTS Traquair House, Innerleithen, beyondbordersscotland.com

Writers, speakers, artists, politicians and performers come together for this threeday festival of thought to discuss and debate current affairs, with a programme that spans literary walks, live music and bike rides.

29 AUGUST–7 SEPTEMBER

SCREENPLAY FILM & TV Mareel, Shetland Arts Development Agency, Toll Clock Centre, 26 North Road, Lerwick, info@shetlandarts.org, shetlandarts.org/screenplay

Shetland’s annual film festival curated by film critics Linda Ruth Williams and Mark Kermode features screenings, lectures and panel discussions involving national and international film industry professionals and film academics while still maintaining a commitment to local filmmakers of all ages.

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Largs Viking Festival

29–31 AUGUST

29–31 AUGUST

LANARK MUSIC CONNECTIONS

JAM FESTIVAL

MUSIC Various venues: Lanark, info@ lanarkmusicconnections.com, lanarkmusicconnections.com

Folk, blues and rock rub shoulders at this mix of local talent and more well-known artists that includes jam sessions, open mic events and workshops.

29–31 AUGUST

TRAD ON THE TYNE MUSIC The Haugh, Westfield Farm, Haddington, info@tradonthetyne.com, tradonthetyne.com

A Borders-based celebration of traditional music, organised by the Haddington Pipe Band. Concerts, open stage, workshops, storytelling, late-night sessions, family entertainment, hog roast and more.

FILM & TV Tullibole Castle, Crook of Devon, Kinross, tulbol.demon.co.uk

Just About Movies (JAM) is a film festival that offers all the extra elements usually associated with a music festival, camping, bars, food, on-site entertainment, but instead of music stages there’s multiple pop-up cinemas. The event is set in the grounds of the 17th century, privately owned Tullibole Castle and festivalers are encouraged to explore the witches maze and medieval church ruins between screenings.

29 AUGUST–7 SEPTEMBER

TIDELINES BOOK FESTIVAL LITERATURE Various Venues: Largs, tidelinesbookfest.wordpress. com LIST.CO.UK/FESTIVALS

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Largs-based book festival with a great little line-up of events for kids and adults alike.

29–31 AUGUST

BRECHIN MUSIC FESTIVAL MUSIC Various venues: Brechin, brechinmusicfest.org

29-31 AUGUST

FEASTREN FOOD & DRINK Various venues: East Renfrewshire, feastren.co.uk

The East Renfrewshire Food Festival puts the emphasis on local produce and eateries as local chefs mix with industry names in a programme of demonstrations, workshops and other foodie events.

30 AUGUST–14 SEPTEMBER

FLAVOUR FORTNIGHT FOOD & DRINK Various venues: Dumfries & Galloway, flavourfortnight.co.uk

More than 100 foodie events, activities and experiences taking place across Dumfries & Galloway. Previous years have offered the chance to learn more about herbal tea, create your own ice cream sundae, take a gluten-free baking course or learn how to make your own cider.

30 AUGUST–7 SEPTEMBER

LARGS VIKING FESTIVAL HERITAGE Various venues: Largs, largsvikingfestival.com

On the anniversary of the Battle of Largs meet King

PAUL CAMPBELL

From a throwaway facebook post to a major event in 14 months, Brechin Music Festival brings together bands from around the country with the best local talent over three days. There is also a funfair and rides for kids to keep everyone entertained.

Alexander of Scotland and King Haakon of Norway with living history installations in two educational villages. Following craft demonstrations, a farmers’ market and aerobatic displays, the festival culminates with a re-enactment of the Battle of Largs, the burning of a Viking Longship and a firework display on the last Saturday.

30–31 AUGUST

EDINBURGH MELA MULTI-ARTS Leith Links, Leith, Edinburgh, info@edinburgh-mela.co.uk

World music, dance, fashion, food and fun spread over four areas: the Main Music Stage, the Mela World Dance Feste, the Mela Mix stage and the Mela Kidzone. The Mela Global Food Village is on hand to replenish your energy after taking in all the sights and sounds. A real community event with wide appeal.

30 AUGUST–6 SEPTEMBER

DEEP FRIED FILM FESTIVAL FILM & TV Various venues: Lanarkshire, deepfriedfilm.org.uk

Lanarkshire’s very own film festival returns with programmes of locally submitted shorts, UK and international features, and a whole day of free workshops for budding filmmakers. This year the festival is supporting the NSPCC. 30 AUGUST

ROOM TO ROAM OUTDOOR The Square, Huntly, info@deveron-arts.com, deveron-arts.com/events/roomroam-festival

A festival of events devoted to walking, with talks, events, a ceilidh and, yes, a good deal of walking.

SPOTLIGHT ON . . .

BELLADRUM TARTAN HEART FESTIVAL Boutique music event with heart and soul Belladrum looks set to continue its ascent of the busy Scottish festival scene, more than holding its own against the noisy neighbours by the loch. Previous years have witnessed the combination of established headliners (Travis), lo-fi newcomers (Meursault) and old-school icons (Buzzcocks), resulting in the festival cementing its claim as Scotland’s pre-eminent boutique music gathering.

Yet Tartan Heart transcends the gig-in-a-field standard that typifies the modern day festival: there’s a familyfriendly feel that will appeal to festival-goers for whom 12 hours in the Slam tent is but a distant memory.

With buskers serenading across the site, theatre and spoken word performances throughout the weekend and installation art to enjoy between sets, this Heart beats to a different rhythm.

(Joe McManus) ■ Belladrum, Inverness, 8–9 Aug, tartanheartfestival.co.uk 67

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31 AUGUST–6 SEPTEMBER

SCOTTISH BORDERS WALKING FESTIVAL OUTDOOR Various venues: Scottish Borders, info@borderswalking. com, borderswalking.com

The Scottish Borders has some of the most breathtaking scenery in the UK. The Scottish Borders Walking Festival, the oldest established walking festival in Scotland, has a reputation for being one of the friendliest walking festivals throughout the year.

SEPTEMBER SEPTEMBER, DATES TBC

ARCHES LIVE MULTI-ARTS The Arches, 253 Argyle Street, Glasgow, thearches.co.uk

A selection of the boldest new work being created across the country encompassing a selection of formats including experimental performance, narrative theatre, one-on-one experiences, live art, visual art and more.

A mixed arts festival held during the month of September in the town of Ayr, as the name suggests. Events run the gamut from piano recitals to rock bands, ghost story nights to local history evenings, and attract local and big named acts suitable for adults and children.

4–7 SEPTEMBER 2–7 SEPTEMBER

NAIRN BOOK AND ARTS FESTIVAL 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. Recent new events include the introduction of a twitter fiction competition and an artisan food fair.

BLAS FESTIVAL MUSIC Various venues: Highlands, blas-festival.com

A massive celebration of the culture of traditional music and Gaelic in the Highlands of Scotland.

ICKLE FILM FEST

4–6 SEPTEMBER

FILM / ART Various venues: Dundee, icklefilmfest.com

SKYE BOOK FESTIVAL

SEPTEMBER, DATES TBC

ORKNEY BLUES FESTIVAL MUSIC Various venues: Orkney, orkneyblues.co.uk

LITERATURE Aros Centre, Viewfield Road, Portree, Isle of Skye, aros.co.uk

A variety of events including storytelling, antiquated book fair and leading novelists, poets, historians and children’s authors, travelling to Skye to meet their readers and talk about their work.

The festival focuses on Gaelic literature, Scottish authors and literature about Scotland.

See panel, p69.

4–7 SEPTEMBER

SEPTEMBER, DATES TBC

BATHGATE MUSIC FESTIVAL

SEPTEMBAYR MULTI-ARTS Various venues: Ayr, septembayr.com 68

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PRESTWICK WORLD FESTIVAL OF FLIGHT FILM & TV / MUSIC / THEATRE & DANCE Various venues: Prestwick, worldfestivalofflight.com

The festival celebrates aviation in word, music, performance and film, as well as exploring Scotland’s heritage in aerospace and civil aviation, including Prestwick’s own starring role.

4–13 SEPTEMBER

4–15 SEPTEMBER

SEPTEMBER, DATES TBC

Dundee hosts a mini-film festival over four days in four different venues, with four different audiences in mind.

bathgatemusicfestival.com A community-led music festival, including the Party in the Park, where a funfair accompanies the music. Live@lunch gigs cheer up the middle of the day, if you simply can’t wait for the evening’s fun.

COMMUNITY / MUSIC Various venues: Bathgate, info@bathgatemusicfestival. com,

FORTH BRIDGES FESTIVAL MULTI-ARTS The Forth Bridge, Edinburgh, info@forthbridgesfestival.com, forthbridgesfestival.com

It’s been 50 years since the iconic Forth Rail Bridge was raised, with ten days of familyfriendly events to mark the occasion, including tower top trips that take you 156 metres above the Firth of Forth, a boat flotilla, a Bridgestock concert, fireworks, a torchlight procession and more.

4–10 SEPTEMBER

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

A series of innovative talks and inspiring events with guest speakers covering all aspects of science. The festival includes social events in the evenings for any continuation of the discussions that happens to be required.

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PORTPATRICK FOLK FESTIVAL MUSIC Various venues: Portpatrick, portpatrickfolkfestival.org

A weekend festival in a picturesque seaside village, with concerts at the village hall and sessions at harbourside pubs on the Friday and Saturday.

PAUL CAMPBELL

5–7 SEPTEMBER

Coupar Angus Road, Dundee, flowerandfood.festival@dundee. gov.uk, dundeeflowerand foodfestival.com A delicious staple in the Dundee calendar, with food and drink tastings, chef demonstrations, live music and competitions including the World Jampionships. Once they’ve had enough to eat, shows and face-painting are on hand to entertain the kids.

5–6 SEPTEMBER

MOTHERWELL BEER FESTIVAL

5–6 SEPTEMBER

FOOD & DRINK Motherwell Concert Hall and Theatre, Civic Centre, Windmillhill Street, Motherwell

FOOD & DRINK / MUSIC Black Isle Brewery, Old Allangrange, Munlochy, jocktoberfest.com

Well-received annual beer festival with live music and beer from around the world.

Follow the Black Isle creed of ‘Save the Planet, Drink Organic’, and feel even more smug about reduced drink miles by drinking their beer just metres from where it is brewed. Also on offer is plenty of live music and bratwurst.

5–7 SEPTEMBER

LIVE @ TROON MUSIC FESTIVAL MUSIC Various venues: Troon, liveattroon.com

A weekend music festival which is growing steadily with strong headliners year by year, as well as its fair share of choirs and folk artists.

5–7 SEPTEMBER

KIRRIEMUIR FESTIVAL OF MUSIC AND SONG FAMILY / MUSIC Various venues: Kirriemuir, info@ kirriefestival.org, kirriefestival.org

A celebration of music in all its forms, with competitions and events around the cosy town most famous for producing JM Barrie. Past years have included talent from BBC Young Traditional Musician of the Year and other pedigree samples of Scottish musicality.

5–7 SEPTEMBER

DUNDEE FLOWER AND FOOD FESTIVAL MULTI-ARTS Camperdown Country Park,

JOCKTOBERFEST

6–7 SEPTEMBER

LOCH LOMOND FOOD AND DRINK FESTIVAL FOOD & DRINK Loch Lomond Shores, Ben Lomond Way, Balloch, info@lochlomondshores.com, lochlomondfoodanddrink festival.co.uk

Tasty tipples and appetising nibbles on the bonny banks of Loch Lomond. The festival comprises free cookery demonstrations, a farmers’ market, continental market, tasting and sampling sessions, a real ale tent and plenty live music.

6–21 SEPTEMBER

SCOTTISH FOOD & DRINK FORTNIGHT FOOD & DRINK Various venues: Scotland, fortnight@scotlan foodanddrink.org, scottishfoodanddrinkfortnight.co.uk

Annual celebration of

SPOTLIGHT ON . . .

ORKNEY BLUES FESTIVAL Smallest, friendliest blues festival Founded in 2006 and styling itself as ‘the smallest, friendliest blues festival in the world’, the festival takes place around several of Stromness and Kirkwall’s finest hostelries over a weekend every September, and invites solo artists and bands from the local music circuit and further afield to perform showpiece sets and get involved in collaborative, often impromptu jams.

Don’t make the epic trip up north expecting to see lots of big names from the international blues touring circuit – this is an intimate, budget affair that prides itself on promoting community involvement and showcasing up-and-comers much more so than it does making prestige bookings. But do expect to be on personal terms with most of the audience and the bands by the end of the weekend, and to enjoy spectacular windswept island surroundings quite unlike any other blues festival in the UK or elsewhere in the world has to offer. (Malcolm Jack) ■ Various venues, Orkney, Sep (dates tbc), orkneyblues.co.uk 69

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Scotland’s fantastic larder offering more than 200 events around the country.

These range from cookery demonstrations to festivals, farmers’ markets and tasting events.

6–7 SEPTEMBER

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

BLOODY SCOTLAND Crime scribes to die for For those who might claim Scotland’s kinship with the Scandic nations, one cultural comparison rings more obviously true than any other. Perhaps it’s down to the hard-bitten sensibility that living under gloomy winters might provide, but Scotland can more than hold its own where dark crime fiction is concerned. Established in 2012, Stirling-based literary weekender Bloody Scotland is a festival which celebrates both homegrown and international writers within the crime-writing genre.

First dreamed up in 2010 by founders and fellow Scots crime novelists Lin Anderson and Alex Gray over a glass of wine at a literary event in Lincoln, Bloody Scotland occurs at the end of Stirling’s week-long Off the Page book festival. Although BS is much younger, it’s been growing substantially since its foundation: in 2012 less than 4000 people attended, while in 2013 that number jumped to more than 5000.

Already, it’s been attracting some first-rate guests. In 2013 an extensive range of Scots names were involved, including William McIlvanney, Christopher Brookmyre, Val McDermid and Quintin Jardine, while substantial international involvement also came from famed Norwegian author Jo Nesbø and Lee Child, American creator of the Jack Reacher series.

A similar balance of Scots and international (particularly Scandinavian) authors are promised for next year, while the Scottish Crime Book of the Year will also be awarded. Which author will follow in the footsteps of Stornoway-based Malcolm Mackay who scooped the 2013 prize for How a Gunman Says Goodbye?

(Dave Pollock) ■ Various venues, Stirling, 19–21 Sep, bloodyscotland.com 70

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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 Stovie Championships seeks to crown a new victor.

6–20 SEPTEMBER

PENFEST MULTI-ARTS Various venues: Penicuik, pdaf@penicuikarts.org, penicuikarts.org

A community arts festival, with poetry, music and art at the forefront. Events include the Penicuik Turner Prize Exhibition and craft sessions for all ages, with enough music and storytelling to keep the grumpiest of young visitors happy.

6 SEPTEMBER

BOOTSTOCK MUSIC Resolis Memorial Hall, Resolis, Balblair, bootstock.org

Annual music festival to help fund educational opportunities for disadvantaged children in the poorest and most remote regions of Nepal.

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10 SEPTEMBER

LINLITHGOW FOLK FESTIVAL FAMILY / MUSIC Various venues: Linlithgow, linlithgowfolk.com

Born from Linlithgow’s highly active folk scene, the town’s Folk Festival has featured big names such Phil Cunningham and Aly Bain, along with music covering the whole spectrum of folk tastes. With musical workshops and family-oriented events, this is, as they claim, ‘friendly folk in Linlithgow’.

12–14 SEPTEMBER

SHETLAND BLUES FESTIVAL MUSIC Various venues: Shetland, shetlandblues.info

The most northerly blues festival in the UK provides a mixture of stalwart returning guests and new faces.

12–14 SEPTEMBER

ST MONANS COMMUNITY ARTS FESTIVAL MULTI-ARTS Various venues: St Monans, Anstruther, stmonans.org.uk

With a strong local community focus, this festival offers a range of spectator and participatory events, with history walks and a camera museum ranking as two of the most popular among a programme of concerts, workshops, visual arts displays and literary events.

The festival features a taste of Islay, so watch out for hand-dived scallops, crabs, chocolates, homebaking and, of course, Lagavulin.

12–21 SEPTEMBER

LAMMERMUIR FESTIVAL MUSIC Various venues: East Lothian, lammermuirfestival.co.uk

The Lammermuir Festival features a celebration of the music of Richard Strauss, to mark his 150th birthday and continues the festival’s exploration of the endlessly fascinating music of Johann Sebastian Bach, as well as works by Mozart, Schubert, Duruflé and Messiaen.

BEST OF THE WEST FESTIVAL MULTI-ARTS Inveraray Castle, Inveraray, Argyll, info@bowfest.co.uk, bowfest.co.uk

12–14 SEPTEMBER

EAT, DRINK, DISCOVER SCOTLAND

15–20 SEPTEMBER

FOOD & DRINK / FAMILY Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston, Edinburgh, royalhighlandcentre.co.uk

A major new food and drink event from the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland, with a focus on regional foods and Scotland’s natural larder complemented by masterclasses, theatre and educational activities for children.

13–20 SEPTEMBER

GAIRLOCH WALKING FESTIVAL OUTDOOR Various venues: Gairloch, walkandwild.com

12–14 SEPTEMBER

LAGAVULIN ISLAY JAZZ FESTIVAL

13–20 SEPTEMBER

A high quality artistic programme that brings Scottish and international musicians together in the unique location of Islay.

13–14 SEPTEMBER

Family-friendly festival highlighting the best in food, drink, craft, music and entertainments from the West of Scotland.

A week of walks ranging in difficulty with an experienced leader.

MUSIC Various venues: Isle of Islay, fiona@jazzscotland.com, islayjazzfestival.co.uk

festival offers a wide range of authors and speakers for adults and children of all ages, as well as How To Get Published, which gives budding local authors advice on getting that book out there.

Past line-ups have included some of the the bigger names in the Scottish literary scene.

OFF THE PAGE STIRLING BOOK FESTIVAL LITERATURE / FAMILY Various venues: Stirling, liboffice@stirling.gov.uk, stirling.gov.uk/offthepage

SPIRIT OF MORAY BOOK FESTIVAL LITERATURE Elgin Library, Cooper Park, Elgin, elgin.library@moray.gov.uk, moray.gov.uk

A celebration of writing, illustration and publishing in Scotland at this local festival that attracts renowned Scottish authors (and kicks off with a whisky event).

Last year’s programme included spots with Maggi Gibson, Louise Welsh, Keith Charters and Allan Massie.

OTHER MAJOR EVENTS In addition to these festivals, there are many other major events taking place in September and October 2014 including: • Highland Homecoming • Forth Bridges Festival • The Ryder Cup Gala Concert For more details of these events see pages 20–23

Now in its eighth year, this local 71

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19–21 SEPTEMBER

19–21 SEPTEMBER

TARBERT MUSIC FESTIVAL

BLOODY SCOTLAND

FAMILY / MUSIC Various venues: Tarbert, john@ williamduncantarbert.co.uk, tarbertfestivals.co.uk

SPOTLIGHT ON . . .

WIGTOWN BOOK FESTIVAL Scotland’s National Book Town delivers Deservedly boasting the title of Scotland’s National Book Town, Wigtown opens its doors to a plethora of fiction writers, poets, biographers and broadcasters for one of the key events on the UK’s literary calendar. An award-winning festival which celebrates the rich local heritage of Galloway as well as having an eye on the bigger picture, it totalled over 175 events in 2013 and there’s no reason why this won’t be at the very least matched this year.

Among the household names who have gathered here in recent times are Fay Weldon, Ian Rankin, Michael Morpurgo, Roddy Doyle, Julia Donaldson, Martin Bell, George Galloway, Sally Magnusson and the late, great Iain Banks. Initially based upon the Hay-on-Wye model when it kicked off in the mid-90s, the Wigtown Book Festival now stands proud as a singular event of its own making.

(Brian Donaldson) ■ Various venues, Wigtown, 26 Sep–5 Oct, wigtownbookfestival.com 72

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Traditional music takes over the pubs and hotels of Tarbert with a series of concerts, workshops and demonstrations culminating in an open air concert on the Fish Quay on the Sunday.

19–21 SEPTEMBER

DOUGLASDALE FOLK FESTIVAL MUSIC St Brides Centre, Braehead, Douglas, carrickmusic@ btinternet.com, douglasdalefolkfestival.info

Small, friendly and affordable festival with something to suit every folky’s taste in a programme of concerts, workshops and pub sessions.

19 SEPTEMBER–4 OCTOBER

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 showing how films can be used to empower communities on an international stage.

19–21 SEPTEMBER

KIRKCALDY FILM FESTIVAL FILM & TV Adam Smith Theatre, Bennochy Road, Kirkcaldy, onfife.com

The second Kirkcaldy Film Festival features three days of classic movies, current releases, special events and some workshops.

LITERATURE Various venues: Stirling, info@bloodyscotland.com, bloodyscotland.com

See panel, p70.

24 SEPTEMBER–12 OCTOBER

BALERNO MUSIC FESTIVAL MUSIC Various venues: Balerno, Edinburgh, balernomusicfestival.org.uk

This community-run music festival returns for a second year with folk and classical concerts, workshops and a distinctly family-orientated feel.

24–28 SEPTEMBER

FINDHORN BAY ARTS FESTIVAL MULTI-ARTS Various venues: Findhorn, Kinloss and Forres, findhornbayarts.com

The very first Findhorn Bay Arts Festival promises something for everyone in its programme of theatre, dance, literature, music and comedy, including a world premiere promenade performance of Macbeth: The Red King. Set in Findhorn, Kinloss and Forres, the festival has a very strong local and community focus.

26–28 SEPTEMBER

THE BELHAVEN BEST DUNBAR TRADITIONAL MUSIC FESTIVAL MUSIC Various venues: Dunbar, margaret.legget@yahoo. co.uk, dunbarmusicfestival.co.uk

The 26th year for this free music festival, which favours Celtic and traditional Scottish and Irish music.

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26–27 SEPTEMBER

LOOPALLU MUSIC Broomfield Holiday Park, West Lane, Ullapool, loopallu.co.uk

This music fest rewards festival-goers for making the trek 60 miles from the nearest town. 2013’s line-up included the Enemy, the Beat, Roddy Woomble and Moulettes, while the likes of Scouting for Girls, Mumford & Sons and Franz Ferdinand have graced the stages over the years proving that the wee town can pull in big names.

26–28 SEPTEMBER

MONIAIVE MICHAELMAS BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL MUSIC Moniaive Institute, Chapel Street, Moniaive, paullyttle@ hotmail.com, moniaivebluegrass.co.uk

Bluegrass, old time, Americana and gospel music in Moniaive, the beautiful music village of southwest Scotland.

26–28 SEPTEMBER

ISLE OF JURA MUSIC FESTIVAL MUSIC Various venues: Isle of Jura, joanemoran@tiscali.co.uk, juramusicfestival.com

Island festival of Scottish traditional music which encourages local talent with concerts, workshops and sessions.

26–28 SEPTEMBER

LOCKERBIE JAZZ FESTIVAL

Scottish and international musicians. The centrepiece of the weekend is the Take Five programme, which offers five hours of jazz and blues on five stages in the centre of Lockerbie.

27 SEPTEMBER-12 OCTOBER

ABERDEEN FILM FESTIVAL FILM & TV Various venues: Aberdeen, aberdeenfilm.com

The very first Aberdeen Film Festival promises to take advantage of the city’s cultural connections to bring in films and filmmakers from across the globe. Expect feature films, shorts and docs, plus workshops, Q&As and a web series night.

27 SEPTEMBER–12 OCTOBER

HIGHLAND ARCHAEOLOGY FESTIVAL

info@lochnessmarathon.com, lochnessmarathon.com A family-friendly day based around all things running, with a choice of lengths for the fitness minded, from a full marathon to a cheeky 5k with a ‘Wee Nessie’ option for under 5s.

OCTOBER OCTOBER/NOVEMBER, DATES TBC

AFRICA IN MOTION FILM FESTIVAL FILM & TV Various venues: Scotland, info@africa-in-motion.org.uk, africa-in-motion.org.uk

Dedicated to showing the diversity of African cinema, AiM has screenings of animated films, features, shorts and documentaries.

OCTOBER, DATES TBC

HERITAGE / OUTDOOR Various venues: Highland, archaeology@highland.gov.uk, highland.gov.uk/archaeology

DANCELIVE

A fortnight of investigations into Scotland’s ancient past, including walks, practical demonstrations, family events, self-guided trails, insights into recent research and talks.

26 SEPTEMBER–5 OCTOBER

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 plenty opportunities for participation.

WIGTOWN BOOK FESTIVAL

OCTOBER, DATES TBC

LITERATURE / FAMILY Various venues: Wigtown, mail@wigtownbookfestival. com, wigtownbookfestival.com

See panel, p72.

MUSIC Various venues: Lockerbie, fiona@jazzscotland.com, lockerbiejazz.com

28 SEPTEMBER

Big band music, contemporary jazz and some very hot blues featuring a host of leading

FAMILY Bught Park, 98 Torvean Avenue, Inverness,

BAXTERS LOCH NESS MARATHON AND FESTIVAL OF RUNNING

THEATRE & DANCE Various venues: Aberdeen, dancelive.org.uk

EDINBURGH INDEPENDENT RADICAL BOOK FAIR LITERATURE Out of the Blue Drill Hall, Dalmeny Street, Edinburgh, word-power.co.uk

Some readings and discussions plus bookstalls with an emphasis on small and independent presses and writings from outside the mainstream.

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OCTOBER, DATES TBC

1–5 OCTOBER

2–4 OCTOBER

EDINBURGH WORLD JUSTICE FESTIVAL

GLASGOW AMERICANA

AYRSHIRE BEER FESTIVAL

POLITICS Various venues: Edinburgh, info@ewjf.org.uk, ewjf.org.uk

The festival aims to raise the profile of international justice and development issues with a series of talks and events.

MUSIC Various venues: Glasgow, glasgowamericana.com

Blues, country and folk fest following in the footsteps of the fondly remembered Big Big Country festival.

1–31 OCTOBER

HISPANIC FESTIVAL OCTOBER, DATES TBC

HA-HA HAMILTON COMEDY Various venues: Hamilton, hahahamilton.com

After testing the waters with a minifest in 2013 (featuring Fred MacAulay, Janey Godley and Tom Stade), Hamilton’s comedy festival returns for a bigger knees-up.

MULTI-ARTS Various venues: Edinburgh, hispanic.arts.scotland@hotmail. co.uk, hispanicfestival.co.uk

A month of events showcasing Spanish and Latin American culture, curated by people who are authentically Spanish and Latin American. Watch out for the Flamenco performances for which this festival is renowned.

FOOD & DRINK Troon Concert Hall, South Beach Ayr Street Troon, ayrshirebf@aol.com, ayrshirebeerfestival.co.uk

Sample some of the many real ales, ciders and wines produced by local brewers and enjoy live music each evening at this event hosted by the local branch of CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale).

2–4 OCTOBER

DUNDEE ROTARY OKTOBERFEST FOOD & DRINK Discovery Quay, Dundee, dundeerotaryoktoberfest.co.uk

SCOTTISH MENTAL HEALTH ARTS & FILM FESTIVAL

1–31 OCTOBER

Throughout the long weekend a host of live bands provide a soundtrack to the main event: 30 real ales and ten continental biers.

ENCOUNTERS FESTIVAL

2–6 OCTOBER

MULTI-ARTS Various venues: Scotland, mhfestival.com

MULTI-ARTS Various venues: North Lanarkshire, northlanarkshire.gov.uk

OCTOBER, DATES TBC

See panel, p76 OCTOBER, DATES TBC

SPREE MULTI-ARTS Various venues: Paisley, thespree.co.uk

A month-long festival of culture encompassing arts and cultural events, workshops and performances across North Lanarkshire.

Paisley’s national arts festival is a mix of music, comedy and arts showcasing the area’s talent.

1–31 OCTOBER

OCTOBER, DATES TBC

MULTI-ARTS Various venues: Scotland, luminate@agescotland.org.uk, luminatescotland.org

TORRIDON REAL ALE FESTIVAL FOOD & DRINK The Torridon, Annat, Achnasheen, info@thetorridon.com, thetorridon.com

Showcasing over 20 ales with tasting notes on each, a vote for Ale of the Festival, and some out of the ordinary flavours.

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LUMINATE: SCOTLAND’S CREATIVE AGEING FESTIVAL

Luminate, a new kid on the festival block, celebrates our creative lives as we age by offering a wide range of inspirational arts activities with and for older people, as well as events for audiences and participants across the generations.

HUNTLY BOOK FESTIVAL LITERATURE Brander Library, The Square, Huntly, huntly.library@ aberdeenshire.gov.uk

This festival features a programme of author talks, writing and book craft workshops, storytelling and poetry with a focus on authors who hail from the North East of Scotland.

2–5 OCTOBER

THE CUMNOCK TRYST MUSIC Various venues: Cumnock, thecumnocktryst.com

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, and these are reflected in the programme, which is to be announced in 2014.

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3–12 OCTOBER

COWALFEST MULTI-ARTS Cowal Peninsula, Cowal, cowalfest.org

Walking festival that takes place amid the natural splendour of the Cowal peninsula with walks focussing on heritage, wildlife or just a good work-out.

3–4 OCTOBER

ULLAPOOL GUITAR FESTIVAL MUSIC The Macphail Centre, Mill Street, Ullapool, r.lindsay@btinternet. com, ullapoolguitarfestival.com

One for all lovers and players of the six-string with a combination of workshops, concerts, late night sessions and a trade fair with several top manufacturers of bespoke guitars.

3–5 OCTOBER

SCOTTISH INTERNATIONAL STORYTELLING FESTIVAL

CALLANDER JAZZ AND BLUES FESTIVAL

Telling tales and sharing stories

MUSIC Various venues: Callander, info@ callanderjazz.com, callanderjazz.com

As old as language itself, the oral storytelling tradition has enjoyed a recent resurgence, giving this ten-day celebration of humanity’s spoken heritage a very current feel. Spanning culture, form and genre, storytellers from around the world descend on Edinburgh to share unique tales. And unique is the key word here: storytelling is neither theatre nor rhetoric, rather a shared experience between audience and orator with no two performances ever the same.

The events on offer reflect the medium’s diversity, ranging from the most familiar allegorical tales told by masters of the craft, to gatherings steeped in Celtic ceilidh tradition, combining poetry, music and anecdote in a communal experience. Exhibitions explore the art throughout history, shedding light on the origins of some of our most famous tales and tellers, whilst talks and lectures discuss the impact and themes of the stories. Children’s events make up a sizeable portion of the programme, and go beyond simply listening to stories. Craft activities and storymaking allow them to delve into traditional legends, creating their own fables along the way.

While the Scottish Storytelling Centre on the Royal Mile serves as the festival’s hub, the many partner venues afford an opportunity to experience the variety of events on offer in some of Edinburgh’s most iconic buildings, with the settings themselves by turns informing and enhancing the programme.

And if you fancy a go at spinning a yarn yourself, there are expertled workshops on hand to help out. After all, everyone’s got at least one good story. (Joe McManus) ■ Various venues, Edinburgh, 24 Oct–2 Nov, tracscotland.org/scottishstorytelling-centre

A long weekend of jazz and blues music with a touch of soul and rock’n’roll thrown in for good measure. Take a jazz cruise on Loch Katrine and enjoy the beautiful surroundings; if you can play or sing, come to an open mic jam session.

3–4 OCTOBER

FEIS NA MARA MUSIC Mallaig and Morar Community Centre, West Bay, Mallaig, info@ feis-na-mara.com, feis-na-mara. com

This predominantly traditional music festival features a roster of live bands, most of which have a local connection. There are also workshops, a family dance and impromptu sessions in the pubs for all to enjoy.

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SPOTLIGHT ON . . .

SCOTTISH MENTAL HEALTH ARTS & FILM FESTIVAL Supporting arts and tackling preconceptions Quite probably the nation’s most broad-ranging festival, the Scottish Mental Health Arts & Film Festival runs annually throughout October with a certain amount of overspill at both ends of the month. Across the whole of Scotland its programme includes elements of dance, theatre, comedy, music, literature and film, with the stated intentions being to support the arts and to challenge preconceived ideas about mental health.

To give some idea of its scale, in 2013 SMHAFF included 309 events over 26 days, although not all of these were overtly related to the subject.

They ranged from illustrative talks and exhibitions in public spaces like shopping centres, libraries and galleries to uplifting live music and comedy shows to a tour of collaborative commission Couldn’t Care Less, a play about dealing with the effects of Alzheimer’s. (David Pollock) ■ Various venues, Scotland, Oct (dates tbc), mhfestival.com 76

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4 OCTOBER

6–12 OCTOBER

T THE GOLDEN SPURTLE WORLD S PORRIDGE MAKING P CHAMPIONSHIP C

SHETLAND WOOL WEEK

F FOOD & DRINK / HERITAGE Various venues: Carrbridge, V goldenspurtle.com g

Shetland’s textile industry celebrates the sheep that catapulted it to fame with seven days of masterclasses, workshops and events led by professionals from the textile and design industry.

T hotly-contested battle The ffor the highest accolade iin the world of competitive porridge-making kicks off p again with international fans a of Scots cuisine battling it out o ffor the golden spurtle. With pipes toasting the porridge, craft stalls, beer and whisky tastings.

4–5 OCTOBER

ISLAY BOOK FESTIVAL LITERATURE Port Ellen Primary School, Lennox Street Port Ellen, Isle of Islay, info@islaybookfestival.com, islaybookfestival.com

An intimate and friendly festival that caters to Scotland’s love of crime thrillers as well as introducing quirky and challenging books in a programme with something for all ages. Last year’s guests include Val McDermid, Janice Galloway and Mairi Hedderwick, with the 2014 line-up to be announced soon.

4–19 OCTOBER

MIDLOTHIAN SCIENCE FESTIVAL FAMILY / SCIENCE Various venues: Midlothian, info@midlothianscience festival.com, midlothiansciencefestival.com

A calendar of events for adults, children and families across Midlothian cover the science of the everyday (last year dove into the science of pudding) along with heftier topics like the environment and genetics.

COMMUNITY Various venues: Shetland, shetlandwoolweek.com

9–13 OCTOBER

SHETLAND ACCORDION AND FIDDLE FESTIVAL MUSIC / HERITAGE Various venues: Shetland, info@shetlandaccordion andfiddle.com, shetlandaccordionandfiddle.com

Visiting and local acts join together in a Shetland knees-up to warm up the October evenings with fine trad music.

10–19 OCTOBER

SCOTLAND LOVES ANIME FILM & TV Glasgow Film Theatre, 12 Rose Street, Glasgow, info@ scotlandlovesanimation.org.uk, lovesanimation.com

One for lovers of Japanese animated cinema, the festival showcases the latest Japanese animation with experts on hand to provide behind-the-scenes information. As well as this, there are workshops, exhibitions, graduate showcases for all ages and tastes.

10 OCTOBER–2 NOVEMBER

THE ENCHANTED FOREST FAMILY / HERITAGE / ART Faskally Wood, Pitlochry, info@enchantedforest.org.uk, 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.

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13–18 OCTOBER

Creative Mackintosh Festival

IMAGINARIUM FESTIVAL MULTI-ARTS Eastgate Theatre & Arts Centre, Eastgate, Peebles, eastgatearts.com

Half-term holiday fun with a festival that ensure kids won’t get bored during the October break. There’s something for all young arts lovers, including dance, theatre, storytelling and a bit of comedy.

15–19 OCTOBER

UNSOLVED FESTIVAL FILM & TV / FAMILY / HERITAGE Various venues: Aberdeenshire, nts.org.uk/Unsolved

Wannabe detectives, budding crime writers, CSI aficionados and those who just like a good old fashioned mystery can enjoy writer talks, films and storytelling events.

16–26 OCTOBER 10–26 OCTOBER

CREATIVE MACKINTOSH FESTIVAL HERITAGE / ART Various venues: Glasgow, events.mhg@gmail.com, glasgowmackintosh.com

A new festival celebrating the creative genius of Charles Rennie Mackintosh by allowing everyone to unleash their own creativity through workshops and activities. There are also exhibitions, walking tours and more to make sure you are thoroughly versed in the ‘Glasgow Style’.

11 OCTOBER–2 NOVEMBER

WILD AUTUMN FESTIVAL FAMILY / OUTDOOR Various venues: Dumfries & Galloway, wildseasons.co.uk

A festival celebrating the flora and fauna of the lovely area of Dumfries and Galloway.

Events are led by local experts from conservation organisations and include hands-on family activities as well as opportunities to see Scotland’s spectacular animals and birds.

BIGGAR LITTLE FESTIVAL MULTI-ARTS Various venues: Biggar, info@biggar-little-festival.com, biggar-little-festival.com

Covering comedy, theatre, exhibitions, walks, dance and music of all kinds, the festival offers affordable local access to the arts for all.

11–17 OCTOBER

BLAZIN’ IN BEAULY

17–19 OCTOBER

MUSIC Various venues: Beauly, admin@blazininbeauly.com, blazininbeauly.com

BBC GOOD FOOD SHOW SCOTLAND

The brainchild of Blazin’ Fiddles, designed to immerse visitors in the music of the Highlands and Islands through concerts, sessions, talks and workshops – making this one of the finest fiddle festivals around.

FOOD & DRINK SECC, Finnieston Quay, Glasgow, bbcgoodfoodshow@ haymarket.com, glasgow.bbcgoodfoodshow. com

The food and drink extravaganza heads north of the border once again for another serving of celebrity chefs and star culinary attractions.

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18–19 OCTOBER

GLASGOW FESTIVAL OF ARABIC DANCE

Oktoberfest

THEATRE & DANCE Dance HQ, 411 White Studios, Templeton on the Green, Templeton Street, Glasgow, info@glasgowfad.com, glasgowfad.com

A weekend of oriental and tribal belly dance workshops, followed by evening performances from some of the UK’s best and brightest belly dancers.

21–22 OCTOBER

THE WEE CHILL THEATRE & DANCE / MUSIC SWG3, Studio Warehouse, 100 Eastvale Place, Glasgow, tickets-scotland.com

The boutique dance and live music festival features performances, a Christmas market, record fair, short film cinema and street food cartel’s Christmas extravaganza.

22–26 OCTOBER

DUNDEE LITERARY FESTIVAL LITERATURE Bonar Hall, The University of Dundee Park Place, Dundee, literarydundee@dundee.ac.uk, literarydundee.co.uk

A mix of events including internationally renowned authors, local names, children’s authors and the Comic Conference which features graphic novelists.

23–26 OCTOBER

ST ANDREWS VOICES MUSIC Various venues: St Andrews, standrewsvoices@gmail.com, 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.

The 2014 festival celebrates Scotland’s cultural history as well as the vibrancy of Scotland’s current music scene.

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23–26 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. The events are held across mainland Orkney with a trip to at least one of the outer islands; the last night always includes an Open Mic session, to encourage new talent.

DRINK / MUSIC Glasgow Green, Greendyke Street, Glasgow, glasgow.gov.uk

Party like you’re in Bavaria, minus the plane fare. Drink the beer, eat the bratwurst, wear the lederhosen and party the night away, stein in hand. There’s a family-friendly Sunday lunch.

24 OCTOBER–2 NOVEMBER

SCOTTISH INTERNATIONAL STORYTELLING FESTIVAL

OKTOBERFEST

LITERATURE / HERITAGE Various venues, Edinburgh, reception@scottishstorytellingcentre.com, scottishstorytellingcentre.co.uk

THEATRE & DANCE / FOOD &

See panel, p75.

16–19 OCTOBER / 23–26 OCTOBER

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24–26 OCTOBER

25–26 OCTOBER

DUNFERMLINE FOLK WEEKEND

PERTH ALL SCOTLAND ACCORDION AND FIDDLE FESTIVAL

MUSIC Various venues: Dunfermline, dunfermlinefolkclub.co.uk

Opening with a family ceilidh on the Friday evening, the weekend proceeds with a selection of workshops, sessions, open stage, family events and concerts, run by a folk club that’s been in existence now for over 50 years.

MUSIC Salutation Hotel, South Street, Perth, perthaccordionfestival.co.uk

Kicking off with a ceilidh, the event takes in competitions and championships during the day before finishing with the Senior Scottish Championship and performances by some of Scotland’s top musicians.

24 OCTOBER–2 NOVEMBER

TWEED VALLEY FOREST FESTIVAL FAMILY / OUTDOOR / HERITAGE Tweed Valley Forest Park, Glentress, forest-festival.com

A celebration of the rich woodland culture and ancient Hallowe’en rites of the Borders in a variety of locations around the picturesque and beautiful Tweed Valley.

25 OCTOBER–9 NOVEMBER

DISCOVERY FILM FESTIVAL FILM & TV / FAMILY Dundee Contemporary Arts, 152 Nethergate, Dundee, discoveryfilmfestival.org.uk

Scotland’s international film festival for young audiences (3+) combines the best youth cinema from around the world with a series of creative workshops and events.

25–26 OCTOBER

PEEBLES FOOD FESTIVAL COMMUNITY / FOOD & DRINK / FAMILY Various venues: Peebles, peeblesfoodfestival.com

Peebles’ Food Festival features cooking demonstrations, competitions and a farmers market. Younger chefs are catered for, with a series of yummy special events.

25–26 OCTOBER

AN FEIS MOR: SCOTLAND’S FESTIVAL OF PADDLESPORT FAMILY Various venues: Perth, tartanfootprint.com/fevent/356/ an-feis-mor-scotlands-festivalof-paddlesport-2014

Celebrate the diversity of paddlesport at this watery festival featuring the Canoe Polo tournament and Pool Slalom competitions. There’s also the thrilling Tay Descent race to watch and the National Indoor Kayak Championships providing the opportunity for you to race against Olympians.

29 OCTOBER–1 NOVEMBER

FACLAN: THE HEBRIDEAN BOOK FESTIVAL LITERATURE / THEATRE & DANCE An Lanntair Arts Centre and Cinema, Kenneth Street, Stornoway, info@lanntair.com, faclan.org

Since moving beyond the equinox to the cusp of winter and focusing on themes such as Second Sight, the Supernatural, Blood, Belief and Pilgrimage, this festival at An Lanntair has attracted major names.

SPOTLIGHT ON . . .

PARANORMAL SCOTLAND Ghostly goings-on With its long history of bloody conflict and dominating medieval architecture, Stirling is an ideal location for this international festival of the supernatural.

Founded by Rob Roy producer Peter Broughan, it’s an ambitious exploration into all aspects of the paranormal, with special investigations into ghosts, UFOs and parapsychology.

As well as talks, discussions and psychic readings in the day, the festival will become a more light-hearted affair at night, with film screenings, storytelling and ghost hunts.

The amazing Ghost Box will enable guests to record their own paranormal experiences for posterity and a masked Hallowe’en ball will help tempt out the creatures of the scary night.

With Broughan’s passion for his subject, and a steadily growing roster of expertise and talent, this promises to fill a ghost-shaped hole in the paranormal calendar.

(Murray Robertson) ■ Various venues, Stirling, 31 Oct–2 Nov, paranormalscotland.com

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30 OCTOBER–2 NOVEMBER 3

S SKYE SWING JAZZ FESTIVAL F M MUSIC SEALL at Sabhal Mor Ostaig, S Sleat, Isle of Skye, S iinfo@seall.com, fotsrecords. com/ c skyeswingjazzfestival.htm s

SPOTLIGHT ON . . .

NEON Technological innovation on Tayside Drawing on Dundee’s digital heritage as the home of Abertay University and the birthplace of Grand Theft Auto, arts festival NEoN (North East of North) transforms the city into an electronic playground. NEoN’s main objective is to explore art that couldn’t exist before the computer age.

Previous events have included turning a building into a sound resonator or converting electromagnetic waves from the stars into music. It’s an ambitious project that alongside concerts, DJs, film screenings, workshops and installations constantly surprises with new and innovative uses of technology.

‘We’re pushing what goes on in Dundee that’s unique to the city,’ explains NEoN’s curator Donna Holford-Lovell.

‘Rather than just hold some kind of business conference it was decided to create more of a celebratory event, because there are more and more artists, even fine artists, who are experimenting with digital technology. Our aim is to highlight how far that stretches.’ (Henry Northmore) ■ Various venues, Dundee, 2-8 Nov, northeastofnorth.com 80

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N Nostalgic jazz festival focuses on sswing, big band, jitterbug and jive sshowcasing new and established stars in the Scottish jazz world.

This years festival has a 1920s theme.

30 OCTOBER–2 NOVEMBER

WEST END BEER FESTIVAL FOOD & DRINK Ryan’s Cellar Bar, 2–4 Hope Street, Edinburgh, ryansbaredinburgh.co.uk

The craft and cask ales flow at this sort-of pub crawl, with eight establishments in the West End joining forces to celebrate good brews and the fact that the tramworks have finally been lifted from the area. Now who wouldn’t drink to that? Beginning and ending at Ryan’s Bar. 31 OCTOBER–2 NOVEMBER

LINLITHGOW BOOK FESTIVAL LITERATURE Various venues: Linlithgow, admin@linlithgowbookfestival. org, linlithgowbookfestival.org

Small, volunteer-run literary festival that manages to pull in an impressive roster of guests.

There’s a slight lean towards history and crime fiction, but this sits comfortably alongside poetry, open mic, discussion and family events.

31 OCTOBER

SAMHUINN FIRE FESTIVAL HERITAGE Royal Mile, Edinburgh, scribe@beltane.org, beltane.org

Celebrate the Celtic New Year,

marking the end of summer and welcoming the onset of winter with a torchlit procession down the Royal Mile, featuring acrobatics, fireworks, beautiful costumes and breathtaking performances.

31 OCTOBER–2 NOVEMBER

PARANORMAL SCOTLAND FILM & TV / THEATRE & DANCE Various venues: Stirling, paranormalscotland.com

See panel, p79.

NOVEMBER NOVEMBER, DATES TBC

ABERDEEN WINTER FESTIVAL MULTI-ARTS Various venues: Aberdeen, aberdeencity.gov.uk

Aberdeen City hosts a range of festive markets, concerts, pantos, exhibitions and entertainment to see you through the winter months.

NOVEMBER, DATES TBC

EDINBURGH’S CHRISTMAS HERITAGE City Centre, Edinburgh, edinburghschristmas.com

The west side of Princes Street is transformed by a fairground, ice rink, a host of colourful lights and the fabled German Christmas market with dozens of stalls selling traditional trinkets and crafts as well as delicious Teutonic treats.

NOVEMBER, DATES TBC

THE ENCHANTED CASTLE FAMILY Crathes Castle, Garden & Estate, Banchory theenchantedcastle.info

A festive wonderland for all the family as the castle is lit up for the festive months, plus entertainment and surprises pepepred throughout the experience.

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Edinburgh’s Christmas

2–8 NOVEMBER

NEON DIGITAL ARTS FESTIVAL FAMILY / SCIENCE / ART Various venues: Dundee, info@northeastofnorth.com, northeastofnorth.com

See panel, p80.

5–12 NOVEMBER

CARRYING STREAM FESTIVAL MUSIC Various venues: Edinburgh, carryingstreamfestival.co.uk

FRASER CAMERON

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.

5–9 NOVEMBER

INVERNESS FILM FESTIVAL NOVEMBER, DATES TBC

LENNOXLOVE BOOK FESTIVAL LITERATURE Lennoxlove House, Haddington, boxoffice@lennoxlovebook festival.com, lennoxlovebookfestival.com

Book festival set in the picturesque surroundings of Lennoxlove House. Last year’s fest included appearances from controversial scientist Richard Dawkins, comedian Viv Groksop, best-selling author Kate Mosse and journalist Kirsty Wark, along with Chris Brookmyre, William McIlvanney and other masters of Tartan Noir.

NOVEMBER, DATES TBC

PERTH WINTER FESTIVAL MUSIC / THEATRE & DANCE Various venues: Perth, pkc.gov.uk

An exciting range of days out,

creative activities, theatre and music events to brighten up even the coldest of winter months.

NOVEMBER, DATES TBC

TOTFEST THEATRE / FAMILY Various venues: Fife, onfife.com

A festival just for the young theatre goer as productions tour round the Kingdom of Fife for their enjoyment. In 2013, Totfest welcomed Paperbelle, The Polar Bears Go Wild and The Edibles.

1–30 NOVEMBER

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

A month-long celebration of Fife’s produce with demonstrations, tastings and special events across town.

FILM & TV Eden Court Theatre, Bishop’s Road, Inverness, invernessfilmfestival.com

It might be a small festival but it certainly packs a tough cinematic punch with film premieres and a handpicked selection of work by international first time directors.

OTHER MAJOR EVENTS In addition to these festivals, there are many other major events taking place in November and December 2014 including: • MTV EMA • Glasgow Gymnastics World Cup For more details of these events see pages 20–23

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6 NOVEMBER–4 DECEMBER

FRENCH FILM FESTIVAL FILM & TV Various venues: Scotland, info@frenchfilmfestival.co.uk, 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, documentaries, animation, shorts and special events.

6-9 NOVEMBER

SHETLAND GUITAR FESTIVAL MUSIC Various venues: Shetland, shetland-music.com

Festival of guitar music including concerts and workshops, held in honour of one of Shetland’s greatest musicians, ‘Peerie’ Willie Johnson, who died in 2007.

7–9 NOVEMBER

ISLAY SESSIONS MUSIC Various venues: Isle of Islay, info@islaysessions.co.uk, islaysessions.co.uk

A small and cosy traditional music festival bringing cheer in the form of pub sessions, workshops for all ages, concert performances and, if you desire, the whisky for which the island is famous.

13-16 NOVEMBER

WORDPLAY LITERATURE Various venues: Shetland, shetlandarts.org/wordplay

A chance to visit the beautiful Shetland Isles and soak up some literature. For its readings, writing workshops, children’s theatre events and book signings the festival welcomes writers of local, national and international renown.

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French Film Festival

7–9 NOVEMBER

ARIKA14 MULTI-ARTS Tramway, 25 Albert Drive, Glasgow, info@arika.org.uk, arika.org.uk

2014’s series of experimental events from Arika. Each installment is designed to explore a particular theme through screenings, performances and debate.

denholmfolkfest.co.uk A wee folk festival for a wee village. The weekend’s programme includes evening concerts, workshops and an open stage competition.

13–30 NOVEMBER

PREVIOUSLY . . .

SCOTLAND’S HISTORY FESTIVAL

DENHOLM FOLK FESTIVAL

COMEDY / THEATRE & DANCE Various venues: Central Belt, info@historyfest. co.uk, historyfest.co.uk

MUSIC Various venues: Denholm, info@denholmfolkfest.co.uk,

Scotland’s history comes to life in a packed programme of talks, walks, tours, teas, activities,

7–9 NOVEMBER

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14–16 NOVEMBER

Various venues: Tarbert, tarbertfestivals.co.uk A one-day celebration of the literary, with book signings and talks from local authors.

ABERFELDY FILM FESTIVAL

22 NOVEMBER–1 DECEMBER

debates, exhibitions, theatre, comedy, art, photography, family history, film and open days.

FILM & TV Various venues: Aberfeldy, heartlandfilmsociety.org.uk

Aberfeldy’s fifth film festival promises great films in a variety of unusual places including Castle Menzies, Birks Cinema and Dewar’s World of Whisky.

There’s something for all the family, with screenings ranging from Hitchcock to Disney, as well as a number of other events over the weekend.

22–24 NOVEMBER

48 HOUR FILM PROJECT FILM & TV The Flying Duck, 142 Renfield Street, Glasgow, 48hourfilm.com

Scotland’s most popular filmmaking event: participants are given a character, prop and line of dialogue, and have 48 hours to make a film, start to finish. All films are professionally screened, and the winning filmmaker wins a trip to Filmapalooza in the USA.

OBAN WINTER FESTIVAL FAMILY Various venues: Oban, obanwinterfestival.com

The coastal town gets frosty with h a series of activities, films and light shows to celebrate the fluffy white season that carries the year to a close.

26–30 NOVEMBER

THE SALTIRE MUSIC / HERITAGE Various venues: East Lothian, eastlothian.gov.uk

A five-day festival of music, culture and heritage. East Lothian is the birthplace of the Scottish Flag and The Saltire Festival celebrates this fact alongside St Andrew’s Day. 27–29 NOVEMBER

GLASGOW IMPROVISERS ORCHESTRA GIOFEST VII MUSIC CCA, 350 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow, glasgowimprovisers orchestra.com

22–24 NOVEMBER

See panel, right.

BIOMEDICAL ETHICS FILM FESTIVAL

28–29 NOVEMBER

FILM & TV Filmhouse, 88 Lothian Road, Edinburgh, filmhousecinema.com/seasons/ cyborg-ethics-film-festival

The 2014 edition of the fest features a programme of films that take on the rather weighty topic of ‘the moral status of the human embryo’.

22 NOVEMBER

TARBERT BOOK FESTIVAL LITERATURE

DUNDEE MOUNTAIN FILM FESTIVAL FILM & TV Bonar Hall, The University of Dundee Park Place, Dundee, , mail@dundeemountainfilm. org.uk, dundeemountainfilm.org.uk

An international programme of films by local filmmakers, presentations and book signings by world renowned mountaineers, adventurers and expedition leaders, and art and photography exhibitions.

SPOTLIGHT ON . . .

GLASGOW IMPROVISERS ORCHESTRA GIOFEST VII Collaborators and composers in the improv field Established in 2002, the Glasgow Improvisers Orchestra (GIO) comprises around 20 musicians from across a range of genres including jazz, folk, pop, experimental and classical.

They’re composers, recording artists and collaborators, as well as educators within the field of musical improvisation.

Held every November, the Glasgow Improvisers Orchestra Festival showcases their own work as well as bringing together significant figures in improvisation from around the world and incorporating discursive elements. An exciting blend of international guests, new commissions, workshops for the public and discussion events is promised at Glasgow’s CCA in 2014.

Although the line-up is unknown at time of writing, example highlights of 2013’s event included Helen Petts’ Solo Soprano and an appearance by Marilyn Crispell. (David Pollock) ■ CCA, Glasgow, 27–29 Nov, glasgowimprovisersorchestra. com 83

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DECEMBER 5–7 DECEMBER

CROMARTY FILM FESTIVAL FILM & TV Various venues: Cromarty, cromartyfilmfestival.org

A film festival that fosters an intimate relationship between audience and guests. Interviews allow the audience to get up close and personal with big Scottish and international names in the film industry, while one of the screenings in the programme is decided by festival-goers.

15–17 DECEMBER

SLOWFEST MUSIC Bloc+, 117 Bath Street, Glasgow, bloc.ru LLOYD SMITH

A couple of days of stripped back, intimate gigs by some of the best contemporary Scottish acts on the scene.

EDINBURGH’S HOGMANAY Out with the old From its beginnings as a fairly ramshackle, hipflask-toting gathering of people in the heart of Edinburgh whose ad hoc nature eventually came close to overrunning safety concerns, Edinburgh’s Hogmanay (or New Year’s Eve, for those who don’t get the traditional local slang) is now one of the premier winter festival events in the world.

It’s so large, in fact, that the celebrations spill beyond the hours surrounding ‘the Bells’ as they signal the passing of the old year into the new. Although at time of writing the 2013 event is still to happen, the Hogmanay festivities usually follow a set arrangement.

The centrepiece is the Concert in the Gardens, a ticketed outdoor concert held in the shadow of Edinburgh Castle on Princes Street Gardens’ Ross Bandstand which sees some of the biggest names of the year or any other play around the spectacular firework display over the Castle at midnight. Past guests have included Madness, Biffy Clyro, Kasabian, Blondie and Pet Shop Boys.

While this is going on, Princes Street and the roads off are gated on a free but ticketed basis, and tens of thousands of revellers cram into this zone to get the best view of the fireworks and be entertained by a lower-key and often predominantly Scottish bill on smaller stages – 2013’s roster included Chvrches, Django Django and King Creosote. For those visiting from beyond Scotland, the shows and stalls of Edinburgh’s Christmas and New Year’s Day events including the Loony Dook – where people gather at South Queensferry to jump in the freezing Firth of Forth – create an extended holiday feel. (David Pollock) ■ Various venues, Edinburgh, 30 Dec–1 Jan, edinburghshogmanay.org 84

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27 DECEMBER–4 JANUARY

SCOTTISH WINTER CHESS FESTIVAL FAMILY Various venues: Edinburgh, chessscotland.com

The inaugural festival where you can enter the tournaments to see if you come out on top.

30 DECEMBER–1 JANUARY

EDINBURGH’S HOGMANAY MUSIC Various venues: Edinburgh, info@edinburghshogmanay.com, edinburgshogmanay.com

See panel, left.

31 DECEMBER

GLASGOW LOVES HOGMANAY MULTI-ARTS George Square, Glasgow, glasgowloveshogmany.com

A programme of family activities for the daytime and early evening of Hogmanay.

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INDEX There are three indexes: the first lists festivals alphabetically, the second by genre and the third by location.

ALPHABETICAL 48 Hour Film Project 83 Aberdeen and North East CAMRA Beer Festival 17, 42 Aberdeen Film Festival 73 Aberdeen International Youth Festival 56 Aberdeen Jazz Festival 29 Aberdeen Winter Festival 80 Aberfeldy Film Festival 83 Aboyne and Deeside Festival 56 Africa in Motion Film Festival 73 Alchemy Film and Moving Image Festival 5, 12, 31 ALOUD – Inky Fingers Minifest 59 An Feis Mor: Scotland’s Festival Of Paddlesport 79 Angus Glens Walking Festival 43 Arbroath Sea Fest 62 Ardrossan Music Experience 44 ARIKA14 82 Auchinleck Alive and Kicking Festival 51 Auchtermuchty Festival 59 Aviemore Walking Festival 38 Aye Write! Glasgow’s Book Festival 30, 33 Ayrshire Beer Festival 74 Balerno Music Festival 72 Ballater Walking Festival 39 Banff Mountain Film Festival 25 Bathgate Music Festival 68 Baxters Loch Ness Marathon and Festival of Running 22, 73 BBC Good Food Show Scotland 77 Behaviour 5, 28 Belhaven Best Dunbar Traditional Music Festival 72 Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival 62, 67 Beltane Fire Festival 33, 36 Best of the West Festival 71 Beyond Borders International Festival of Literature and Thought 66 Big Burns Supper 20, 25 Biggar Little Festival 77 Biomedical Ethics Film Festival 83 Blas Festival 68 Blazin’ in Beauly 77 Bloody Scotland 70, 72 Bon Scott Fest 63 Booked!

38

Bootstock 70 Border Gaitherin – Coldstream 42 Borders Book Festival 4, 46 Borders Festival Of The Horse 39 Boswell Book Festival 37 Brechin Music Festival 67 Brew at the Bog 36 Bring It All Home 31 Burns an’ a’ That! Festival 40 Burnsfest 25 Buzzcut Festival 32 Callander Jazz and Blues Festival 75 Cantilena Festival on Islay 53 Carrying Stream Festival 81 Celtic Connections 24, 25 Ceolas 53 Coloursfest 33 Cottier Chamber Project 45 Counterflows 5, 31 Cowalfest 75 Crail Festival 55 Crail Food Festival 17, 48 Creative Loop Student Media Festival 30 Creative Mackintosh Festival 77 Cromarty Film Festival 84 Culross Festival 63 Culture 2014 4, 10, 24 Cumnock Tryst 74 DanceLive 5, 73 Dare Protoplay 58, 59 Darvel Music Festival 34 Dead by Dawn 12, 32 Deep Fried Film Festival 12, 67 Denholm Folk Festival 82 Discovery Film Festival 12, 79 Douglasdale Folk Festival 72 Doune the Rabbit Hole 64 Dumfries & Galloway Science Festival 33 Dumfries and Galloway Arts Festival 39 Dunbar SciFest 30 Dundead Horror Film Festival 33 Dundee Beer Festival 46 Dundee Blues Bonanza 51 Dundee Flower and Food Festival 17, 69 Dundee Literary Festival 78 Dundee Mountain Film Festival 12, 83 Dundee Rotary Oktoberfest 74 Dundee WestFest 45 Dundee Women’s Festival 28 Dundonald Music Festival 40 Dunfermline Bruce Festival 53 Dunfermline Folk Weekend 79 Dunoon Film Festival 48 Early Years Festival 51 East Neuk Festival 21, 51 Eat, Drink, Discover Scotland 16, 71

Eden Festival 46 Edinburgh Art Festival 56, 61 Edinburgh Festival Fringe 59, 60 Edinburgh Festival of Cycling 46 Edinburgh Independent Radical Book Fair 73 Edinburgh International Book Festival 61, 62 Edinburgh International Fashion Festival 53 Edinburgh International Festival 61, 62 Edinburgh International Festival of Middle Eastern Spirituality and Peace 28 Edinburgh International Film Festival 12, 48, 61 Edinburgh International Harp Festival 31 Edinburgh International Magic Festival 51 Edinburgh International Science Festival 31, 60 Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival 54, 61 Edinburgh Mela 21, 61, 67 Edinburgh Mountain Film Festival 26 Edinburgh Short Film Festival 45 Edinburgh World Justice Festival 74 Edinburgh’s Christmas 80 Edinburgh’s Festival of Ireland 29 Edinburgh’s Hogmanay 61, 84 Electric Frog 36 Electric Glen 26 Enchanted Castle 80 Enchanted Forest 76 Encounters Festival 74 European Festival of Brass 2014 32 Faclan: The Hebridean Book Festival 79 Falkirk Tryst Festival 37 Falkland Traditional Music Festival 51 FeastRen 67 FebruaryFest 25 Feis an Eilean 51 Feis na Mara 75 Festival 2014 4, 10, 54 Festival of Dangerous Ideas 46 Festival of Museums 38 Festival of Politics 61, 62 Fife Comedy Festival 30 Fife Festival Of Music 25 Fife Jazz Festival 26 Fife Science Festival 29 Fife Traditional Singing Festival 38 Findhorn Bay Arts Festival 4, 72 Flavour Fortnight 67 Food on Film 25 Forth Bridges Festival 21, 68 Fort William Mountain Festival 28 Freckfest 50 French Film Festival 82 Fringe by the Sea 59 85

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FyneFest 48 Gairloch Walking Festival 71 Galloway Music Festival 29 Garioch Theatre Festival 50 GastroFest 31 Girvan Traditional Folk Festival 36 Glasgow Americana 74 Glasgow Festival of Arabic Dance 78 Glasgow Film Festival 12, 28 Glasgow Improvisers Orchestra GIOfest VII 83 Glasgow International Comedy Festival 29 Glasgow International Festival Of Visual Art 30, 32 Glasgow International Jazz Festival 50 Glasgow Loves Hogmanay 84 Glasgow Open House Art Festival 31 Glasgow Science Festival 44 Glasgow Short Film Festival 26 Glasgow Youth Film Festival 26 Glasgow’s St. Patrick’s Festival 28 Glasgow’s Whisky Festival 39 Glenfarg Folk Feast 62 Golden Spurtle World Porridge Making Championship 76 goNORTH Creative Industries Festival 43 Granite City Country Music Festival 66 Ha-Ha Hamilton 74 Haddington Festival 43 Happyness Comedy Festival 40, 42 Harris Arts Festival 51 Heart of Scotland Beer Festival 38 Hebridean Celtic Festival 53, 54 Hidden Door 28 Highland Archaeology Festival 73 Highland Perthshire Cycling Festival 36 Hippodrome Festival of Silent Cinema 4, 12, 29 Hispanic Festival 74 Horsecross Youth Arts Festival 48 Howlin’ Fling 54 Huntly Book Festival 74 Huntly Hairst – Food and Farming Festival 17, 70 Ickle Film Festival 68 Imaginarium Festival 77 Imaginate Festival 37, 38 Innerleithen Music Festival 63 Inverness Book Festival 64 Inverness Film Festival 81 Inverness Whisky Festival 17, 30 Irvine Valley Walking Festival 39 Islay Book Festival 76 Islay Sessions 82 Isle of Arran Mountain Festival 39 Isle of Bute Jazz Festival 36 86

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Isle of Colonsay: Festival of Spring 32 Isle of Gigha Music Festival 49, 51 Isle of Jura Music Festival 73 Isle of Skye Accordion and Fiddle Festival 40 Italian Film Festival Scotland 28 JAM Festival 66 Jocktoberfest 69 John Muir Festival 4, 32, 34 Just Festival 58 Kelburn Garden Party 45, 52 Kelso Bikefest 53 Kelso Country and Western Festival 37 Kingdom of Fife Real Ale, Cider and Perry Festival 36 Kirkcaldy Film Festival 72 Kirkcudbright Jazz Festival 46 Kirriemuir Festival of Music and Song 69 Knockengorroch World Ceilidh 4, 39 Lagavulin Islay Jazz Festival 71 Lairg Music Festival 50 Lammermuir Festival 71 Lanark Music Connections 66 Largs Viking Festival 67 Leith Festival 48 LeithLate 43 Lennoxlove Book Festival 81 Les-Fest 51 Linlithgow Book Festival 80 Linlithgow Civic Festival 43 Linlithgow Folk Festival 71 Live @ Troon Music Festival 69 Loanhead Music Festival 46 Loch Fyne Food Fair 39 Loch Lomond Food and Drink Festival 69 Loch Ness Film Festival 55 Loch Shiel Spring Festival 36 Lockerbie Jazz Festival 73 Loopallu 73 Lorn Drama Festival 30 Lossiemouth Folk Club Festival 53 Luminate: Scotland’s Creative Ageing Festival 12, 74 Manipulate Visual Theatre Festival 25 Marymass Festival 62 Mauchline Holy Fair 42 Mayfesto 37 McLellan Arts Festival 63 Meadows Festival 45 Mearns Connections Festival 58 Mendelssohn on Mull 53 Merchant City Festival 55 Middle Eastern Film Festival 39 Midlothian Science Festival 76 Midlothian Walking Festival 62 Moniaive Folk Festival 37

Moniaive Michaelmas Bluegrass Festival 73 Montrose Music Festival 40 Moray Walking Festival 49 Motherwell Beer Festival 69 Mull of Kintyre Music Festival 64 Music at Paxton 54 Nairn Book and Arts Festival 68 National Festival of Youth Theatre 51 Nature-Fest 36 NEoN Digital Arts Festival 80, 81 Newcastleton Traditional Music Festival 52 Newton Stewart Walking Festival 37 New Year’s Revolution 24 Niel Gow Annual Scottish Fiddle Festival 30 Northern Nashville Caithness Country Music Festival 32 Northern Roots Music Festival 43 Northern Streams 32 Oban Winter Festival 83 Ochils Festival 43 Off the Page Stirling Book Festival 71 Oktoberfest 78 On the Rocks Student Arts Festival 31 Orkney Blues Festival 68, 69 Orkney Folk Festival 5, 39 Orkney International Science Festival 68 Orkney Jazz Festival 31 Orkney Storytelling Festival 78 Paisley Beer Festival 32 Papay Gyro Nights 26 Paranormal Scotland 79, 80 Partick Folk Festival 42 Peebles Arts Festival 64 Peebles Beltane Festival 48 Peebles Food Festival 79 Penfest 70 Pentlands Walking Festival 56 Perform in Perth 28 Perth All Scotland Accordion and Fiddle Festival 79 Perth Beer Festival 38 Perth Festival of the Arts 40 Perth Winter Festival 81 Piping Live!

62 Pittenweem Arts Festival 59 Portpatrick Folk Festival 69 Portsoy Music Festival: The Fourth Haal 42 Potfest Scotland 44 Prestwick World Festival of Flight 68 Previously . . . Scotland’s History Festival 82 Puppet Animation Festival 30 Pussy Whipped Festival 32 Refugee Week Scotland 48 Rewind Scotland: The 80s Festival 48 LIST.CO.UK/FESTIVALS

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Room to Roam 67 Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo 58 Royal Highland Show 49 Ruthven Parish Festival 44 Sail and Oar Festival on Cumbrae 62 Saltcoats Queen of the Sea Festival 54 Saltire 83 Samhuinn Fire Festival 80 Scotland Loves Anime 76 Scotland’s Festival of History 64 Scottish Birdfair 38 Scottish Borders Walking Festival 68 Scottish Food & Drink Fortnight 69 Scottish International Storytelling Festival 75, 78 Scottish Mental Health Arts and Film Festival 12, 74, 76 Scottish Six Days Trial 36 Scottish Traditional Boat Festival 46, 51 Scottish Winter Chess Festival 84 Screenplay 12, 66 Scribbler’s Picnic Music Festival and Funday 38 Septembayr 68 Shetland Accordion and Fiddle Festival 76 Shetland Blues Festival 71 Shetland Fiddle Frenzy 59 Shetland Folk Festival 34 Shetland Guitar Festival 82 Shetland Nature Festival 53 Shetland Wool Week 76 Skye Book Festival 68 Skye Storytelling Festival and Glendale Gathering 48 Skye Swing Jazz Festival 80 Slowfest 84 Snowdrops by Starlight 26 Solas Festival 50 Sound Thought 24 Southern Fried Festival 56 Speyfest 56 Spirit of Moray Book Festival 71 Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival 34 Spree 74 Spring Fling 42 St Andrews Food and Drink Festival 17, 81 St Andrews Voices 78 StAnza: Scotland’s Poetry Festival 28, 29 St Magnus International Festival 49 St Monans Community Arts Festival 71 St Monans Sea Queen Day 48 Stonehaven Folk Festival 53 Stowed Out Festival 63 Stranraer RNLI Park Fest 64 Strathaven Balloon Festival 64 Strathyre Music Festival 42

Streetland 45 Strichen Festival 40 Surge 55 Take One Action Film Festival 72 Tarbert Book Festival 83 Tarbert Music Festival 72 Tarbert Seafood Festival 17, 52 Tarbert Traditional Boat Festival and Loch Fyne Viking Festival 50 Tidelines Book Festival 66 Tin Forest 55 T in the Park 52, 53 Tiree Music Festival 54 TMSA Keith Festival 45 Torridon Real Ale Festival 74 Totfest 81 Tradfest 34 Trad on the Tyne 66 Truckfest Scotland 59 TT16 Film Festival 64 Turing Festival 58 TweedLove Bike Festival 20, 42 Tweed Valley Forest Festival 79 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup 22, 45 Ugie Folk Festival 55 UK Green Film Festival 43 Ullapool Book Festival 37 Ullapool Dance Festival 28 Ullapool Guitar Festival 75 University of Aberdeen May Festival 37 Unsolved Festival 77 UnstFest 52 Up Helly Aa 25 Walk Islay 31 Wee Chill 78 Wee Dub Festival 29 Wee Festival of Words 50 Wee Write!

28 West End Beer Festival 80 West End Festival 5, 44 Whisky Fringe 59 Wickerman Festival 55, 56 Wigtown Book Festival 72, 73 Wild Autumn Festival 77 Wild Lochaber Festival 39 Wild Spring Festival 31 WinterWeek 28 Winter Words Festival 26 Wordplay 82 Yellae Deuks 32 Yetholm Walking Festival 43 Young at Heart Festival 29

GENRE ART Alchemy Film and Moving Image Festival 5, 12, 31 Buzzcut Festival 32 Creative Mackintosh Festival 77 East Neuk Festival 21, 51 Edinburgh Art Festival 56, 61 Edinburgh International Fashion Festival 53 Enchanted Forest 76 Falkirk Tryst Festival 37 Glasgow International Festival Of Visual Art 30, 32 Glasgow Open House Art Festival 31 Haddington Festival 43 Ickle Film Festival 68 John Muir Festival 4, 32, 34 Just Festival 58 LeithLate 43 NEoN Digital Arts Festival 80, 81 Pittenweem Arts Festival 59 Potfest Scotland 44 Spring Fling 42

COMEDY Fife Comedy Festival 30 Glasgow International Comedy Festival 29 Ha-Ha Hamilton 74 Happyness Comedy Festival 40, 42 Previously . . . Scotland’s History Festival 82

COMMUNITY Bathgate Music Festival Booked!

Meadows Festival Peebles Food Festival Ruthven Parish Festival Saltcoats Queen of the Sea Festival Shetland Wool Week St Monans Sea Queen Day Stranraer RNLI Park Fest

68 38 45 79 44 54 76 48 64

FAMILY An Feis Mor: Scotland’s Festival Of Paddlesport 79 Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival 62, 67 Dare Protoplay 58, 59 Discovery Film Festival 12, 79 Dumfries & Galloway Science Festival 33 Dunfermline Bruce Festival 53 Eat, Drink, Discover Scotland 16, 71 Edinburgh International Science Festival 31, 60 87

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Enchanted Castle 80 Enchanted Forest 76 Fife Science Festival 29 Food on Film 25 Garioch Theatre Festival 50 Glasgow Science Festival 44 Glenfarg Folk Feast 62 Highland Perthshire Cycling Festival 36 Hippodrome Festival of Silent Cinema 4, 12, 29 Imaginate Festival 37, 38 Isle of Gigha Music Festival 49, 51 Kelburn Garden Party 45, 52 Kirriemuir Festival of Music and Song 69 Knockengorroch World Ceilidh 4, 39 Linlithgow Folk Festival 71 Marymass Festival 62 Meadows Festival 45 Midlothian Science Festival 76 Midlothian Walking Festival 62 National Festival of Youth Theatre 51 Nature-Fest 36 NEoN Digital Arts Festival 80, 81 Newcastleton Traditional Music Festival 52 Oban Winter Festival 83 Ochils Festival 43 Off the Page Stirling Book Festival 71 Orkney International Science Festival 68 Peebles Food Festival 79 Puppet Animation Festival 30 Snowdrops by Starlight 26 St Monans Sea Queen Day 48 Stranraer RNLI Park Fest 64 Strathaven Balloon Festival 64 Surge 55 Tarbert Music Festival 72 Tiree Music Festival 54 Truckfest Scotland 59 TweedLove Bike Festival 20, 42 Tweed Valley Forest Festival 79 Unsolved Festival 77 Wee Write!

28 Wild Autumn Festival 77 Wild Spring Festival 31 Yellae Deuks 32

FILM & TV 48 Hour Film Project 83 Aberdeen Film Festival 73 Aberfeldy Film Festival 83 Africa in Motion Film Festival 73 Alchemy Film and Moving Image Festival 5, 12, 31 Banff Mountain Film Festival 25 Biomedical Ethics Film Festival 83 Cromarty Film Festival 84 88

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Dead by Dawn 12, 32 Deep Fried Film Festival 12, 67 Discovery Film Festival 12, 79 Dundead Horror Film Festival 33 Dundee Mountain Film Festival 12, 83 Dunoon Film Festival 48 Edinburgh International Film Festival 12, 48, 61 Edinburgh Mountain Film Festival 26 Edinburgh Short Film Festival 45 Food on Film 25 Fort William Mountain Festival 28 French Film Festival 82 Glasgow Film Festival 12, 28 Glasgow Short Film Festival 26 Glasgow Youth Film Festival 26 Ickle Film Festival 68 Inverness Film Festival 81 Italian Film Festival Scotland 28 JAM Festival 66 Kirkcaldy Film Festival 72 Loch Ness Film Festival 55 Manipulate Visual Theatre Festival 25 Middle Eastern Film Festival 39 Paranormal Scotland 79, 80 Prestwick World Festival of Flight 68 Scotland Loves Anime 76 Screenplay 12, 66 Take One Action Film Festival 72 TT16 Film Festival 64 UK Green Film Festival 43 Unsolved Festival 77

FOOD & DRINK Aberdeen and North East CAMRA Beer Festival Arbroath Sea Fest Ayrshire Beer Festival Baxters Loch Ness Marathon and Festival of Running BBC Good Food Show Scotland Brew at the Bog Crail Food Festival Dundee Beer Festival Dundee Rotary Oktoberfest Eat, Drink, Discover Scotland FeastRen FebruaryFest Flavour Fortnight Food on Film GastroFest Glasgow’s Whisky Festival Golden Spurtle World Porridge Making Championship Heart of Scotland Beer Festival

17, 42 62 74 22, 73 77 36 17, 48 46 74 16, 71 67 25 67 25 31 39 76 38

Huntly Hairst – Food and Farming Festival 17, 70 Inverness Whisky Festival 17, 30 Jocktoberfest 69 Kelso Bikefest 53 Kingdom of Fife Real Ale, Cider and Perry Festival 36 Loch Fyne Food Fair 39 Loch Lomond Food and Drink Festival 69 Motherwell Beer Festival 69 Oktoberfest 78 Paisley Beer Festival 32 Peebles Food Festival 79 Perth Beer Festival 38 Royal Highland Show 49 Scottish Food & Drink Fortnight 69 Scottish Winter Chess Festival 84 Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival 34 St Andrews Food and Drink Festival 17, 81 Tarbert Seafood Festival 17, 52 Tarbert Traditional Boat Festival and Loch Fyne Viking Festival 50 Torridon Real Ale Festival 74 Totfest 81 West End Beer Festival 80 Whisky Fringe 59

HERITAGE Auchtermuchty Festival 59 Beltane Fire Festival 33, 36 Creative Mackintosh Festival 77 Dunfermline Bruce Festival 53 Edinburgh’s Christmas 80 Enchanted Forest 76 Feis an Eilean 51 Festival of Museums 38 Fife Traditional Singing Festival 38 Golden Spurtle World Porridge Making Championship 76 Haddington Festival 43 Highland Archaeology Festival 73 Hippodrome Festival of Silent Cinema 4, 12, 29 Largs Viking Festival 67 Leith Festival 48 Marymass Festival 62 Mauchline Holy Fair 42 Peebles Beltane Festival 48 Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo 58 Royal Highland Show 49 Sail and Oar Festival on Cumbrae 62 Saltire 83 Samhuinn Fire Festival 80 Scotland’s Festival of History 64 Scottish International Storytelling Festival 75, 78 LIST.CO.UK/FESTIVALS

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Shetland Accordion and Fiddle Festival Strichen Festival Tarbert Traditional Boat Festival and Loch Fyne Viking Festival Tradfest Tweed Valley Forest Festival Unsolved Festival Up Helly Aa

76 40 50 34 79 77 25

LITERATURE ALOUD – Inky Fingers Minifest 59 Aye Write! Glasgow’s Book Festival 30, 33 Bloody Scotland 70, 72 Booked!

38 Borders Book Festival 4, 46 Boswell Book Festival 37 Dundee Literary Festival 78 East Neuk Festival 21, 51 Edinburgh Independent Radical Book Fair 73 Edinburgh International Book Festival 61, 62 Faclan: The Hebridean Book Festival 79 Huntly Book Festival 74 Inverness Book Festival 64 Islay Book Festival 76 Lennoxlove Book Festival 81 Linlithgow Book Festival 80 Mearns Connections Festival 58 Off the Page Stirling Book Festival 71 Orkney Storytelling Festival 78 Scottish International Storytelling Festival 75, 78 Skye Book Festival 68 Skye Storytelling Festival and Glendale Gathering 48 Spirit of Moray Book Festival 71 StAnza: Scotland’s Poetry Festival 28, 29 Tarbert Book Festival 83 Tidelines Book Festival 66 Ullapool Book Festival 37 Wee Festival of Words 50 Wee Write!

28 Wigtown Book Festival 72, 73 Winter Words Festival 26 Wordplay 82

MULTI-ARTS Aberdeen International Youth Festival Aberdeen Winter Festival Aboyne and Deeside Festival Arches Live ARIKA14 Auchinleck Alive and Kicking Festival Best of the West Festival

56 80 56 68 82 51 71

Beyond Borders International Festival of Literature and Thought 66 Big Burns Supper 20, 25 Biggar Little Festival 77 Burns an’ a’ That! Festival 40 Burnsfest 25 Counterflows 5, 31 Cowalfest 75 Crail Festival 55 Creative Loop Student Media Festival 30 Culross Festival 63 Culture 2014 4, 10, 24 Dumfries and Galloway Arts Festival 39 Dundee Flower and Food Festival 17, 69 Dundee WestFest 45 Dundee Women’s Festival 28 Early Years Festival 51 Eden Festival 46 Edinburgh Festival Fringe 59, 60 Edinburgh International Festival 61, 62 Edinburgh International Festival of Middle Eastern Spirituality and Peace 28 Edinburgh Mela 21, 61, 67 Edinburgh’s Festival of Ireland 29 Encounters Festival 74 Festival 2014 4, 10, 54 Findhorn Bay Arts Festival 4, 72 Forth Bridges Festival 21, 68 Fringe by the Sea 59 FyneFest 48 Glasgow Loves Hogmanay 84 goNORTH Creative Industries Festival 43 Harris Arts Festival 51 Hidden Door 28 Hispanic Festival 74 Horsecross Youth Arts Festival 48 Imaginarium Festival 77 Linlithgow Civic Festival 43 Luminate: Scotland’s Creative Ageing Festival 12, 74 McLellan Arts Festival 63 Merchant City Festival 55 Nairn Book and Arts Festival 68 On the Rocks Student Arts Festival 31 Papay Gyro Nights 26 Peebles Arts Festival 64 Penfest 70 Perform in Perth 28 Perth Festival of the Arts 40 Refugee Week Scotland 48 Scottish Birdfair 38 Scottish Mental Health Arts and Film Festival 12, 74, 76 Scottish Traditional Boat Festival 46, 51 Septembayr 68 Solas Festival 50

Sound Thought 24 Spree 74 St Monans Community Arts Festival 71 Streetland 45 TMSA Keith Festival 45 University of Aberdeen May Festival 37 West End Festival 5, 44 WinterWeek 28 Young at Heart Festival 29

MUSIC Aberdeen Jazz Festival 29 Ardrossan Music Experience 44 Auchtermuchty Festival 59 Balerno Music Festival 72 Bathgate Music Festival 68 Belhaven Best Dunbar Traditional Music Festival 72 Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival 62, 67 Blas Festival 68 Blazin’ in Beauly 77 Bon Scott Fest 63 Bootstock 70 Border Gaitherin – Coldstream 42 Brechin Music Festival 67 Brew at the Bog 36 Bring It All Home 31 Callander Jazz and Blues Festival 75 Cantilena Festival on Islay 53 Carrying Stream Festival 81 Celtic Connections 24, 25 Ceolas 53 Coloursfest 33 Cottier Chamber Project 45 Cumnock Tryst 74 Darvel Music Festival 34 Denholm Folk Festival 82 Douglasdale Folk Festival 72 Doune the Rabbit Hole 64 Dundee Blues Bonanza 51 Dundonald Music Festival 40 Dunfermline Folk Weekend 79 East Neuk Festival 21, 51 Edinburgh International Harp Festival 31 Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival 54, 61 Edinburgh’s Hogmanay 61, 84 Electric Frog 36 European Festival of Brass 2014 32 Falkland Traditional Music Festival 51 Feis an Eilean 51 Feis na Mara 75 Fife Festival Of Music 25 Fife Jazz Festival 26 Fife Traditional Singing Festival 38 Freckfest 50 Galloway Music Festival 29 89

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THE GUIDE TO SCOTLAND’S FESTIVALS 2014

Girvan Traditional Folk Festival 36 Glasgow Americana 74 Glasgow Improvisers Orchestra GIOfest VII 83 Glasgow International Jazz Festival 50 Glasgow’s St. Patrick’s Festival 28 Glenfarg Folk Feast 62 Granite City Country Music Festival 66 Haddington Festival 43 Hebridean Celtic Festival 53, 54 Highland Perthshire Cycling Festival 36 Howlin’ Fling 54 Innerleithen Music Festival 63 Inverness Whisky Festival 17, 30 Islay Sessions 82 Isle of Bute Jazz Festival 36 Isle of Gigha Music Festival 49, 51 Isle of Jura Music Festival 73 Isle of Skye Accordion and Fiddle Festival 40 Jocktoberfest 69 Kelburn Garden Party 45, 52 Kelso Bikefest 53 Kelso Country and Western Festival 37 Kirkcudbright Jazz Festival 46 Kirriemuir Festival of Music and Song 69 Knockengorroch World Ceilidh 4, 39 Lagavulin Islay Jazz Festival 71 Lairg Music Festival 50 Lammermuir Festival 71 Lanark Music Connections 66 Les-Fest 51 Linlithgow Folk Festival 71 Live @ Troon Music Festival 69 Loanhead Music Festival 46 Loch Shiel Spring Festival 36 Lockerbie Jazz Festival 73 Loopallu 73 Lossiemouth Folk Club Festival 53 Meadows Festival 45 Mearns Connections Festival 58 Mendelssohn on Mull 53 Moniaive Folk Festival 37 Moniaive Michaelmas Bluegrass Festival 73 Montrose Music Festival 40 Mull of Kintyre Music Festival 64 Music at Paxton 54 Newcastleton Traditional Music Festival 52 New Year’s Revolution 24 Niel Gow Annual Scottish Fiddle Festival 30 Northern Nashville Caithness Country Music Festival 32 Northern Roots Music Festival 43 Northern Streams 32 Oktoberfest 78 90

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Orkney Blues Festival 68, 69 Orkney Folk Festival 5, 39 Orkney Jazz Festival 31 Partick Folk Festival 42 Peebles Beltane Festival 48 Perth All Scotland Accordion and Fiddle Festival 79 Perth Winter Festival 81 Piping Live!

62 Portpatrick Folk Festival 69 Portsoy Music Festival: The Fourth Haal 42 Prestwick World Festival of Flight 68 Pussy Whipped Festival 32 Rewind Scotland: The 80s Festival 48 Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo 58 Royal Highland Show 49 Saltire 83 Scotland’s Festival of History 64 Scribbler’s Picnic Music Festival and Funday 38 Shetland Accordion and Fiddle Festival 76 Shetland Blues Festival 71 Shetland Fiddle Frenzy 59 Shetland Folk Festival 34 Shetland Guitar Festival 82 Skye Swing Jazz Festival 80 Slowfest 84 Southern Fried Festival 56 Speyfest 56 Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival 34 St Andrews Voices 78 St Magnus International Festival 49 Stonehaven Folk Festival 53 Stowed Out Festival 63 Stranraer RNLI Park Fest 64 Strathyre Music Festival 42 Strichen Festival 40 Tarbert Music Festival 72 Tin Forest 55 T in the Park 52, 53 Tiree Music Festival 54 Tradfest 34 Trad on the Tyne 66 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup 22, 45 Ugie Folk Festival 55 Ullapool Guitar Festival 75 UnstFest 52 Wee Chill 78 Wee Dub Festival 29 Wickerman Festival 55, 56 Yellae Deuks 32

Borders Festival Of The Horse 39 Edinburgh Festival of Cycling 46 Electric Glen 26 Gairloch Walking Festival 71 Highland Archaeology Festival 73 Highland Perthshire Cycling Festival 36 Irvine Valley Walking Festival 39 Isle of Arran Mountain Festival 39 Isle of Colonsay: Festival of Spring 32 John Muir Festival 4, 32, 34 Kelso Bikefest 53 Midlothian Walking Festival 62 Moray Walking Festival 49 Newton Stewart Walking Festival 37 Ochils Festival 43 Pentlands Walking Festival 56 Room to Roam 67 Scottish Borders Walking Festival 68 Scottish Six Days Trial 36 Shetland Nature Festival 53 Snowdrops by Starlight 26 TweedLove Bike Festival 20, 42 Tweed Valley Forest Festival 79 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup 22, 45 Walk Islay 31 Wild Autumn Festival 77 Wild Lochaber Festival 39 Wild Spring Festival 31 Yetholm Walking Festival 43

OUTDOOR

THEATRE & DANCE

Angus Glens Walking Festival Aviemore Walking Festival Ballater Walking Festival

43 38 39

POLITICS Edinburgh World Justice Festival Festival of Dangerous Ideas Festival of Politics Just Festival Take One Action Film Festival

74 46 61, 62 58 72

SCIENCE Dare Protoplay 58, 59 Dumfries & Galloway Science Festival 33 Dunbar SciFest 30 Edinburgh International Science Festival 31, 60 Festival of Dangerous Ideas 46 Fife Science Festival 29 GastroFest 31 Glasgow Science Festival 44 Midlothian Science Festival 76 NEoN Digital Arts Festival 80, 81 Orkney International Science Festival 68 Turing Festival 58

Behaviour Border Gaitherin – Coldstream Buzzcut Festival

5, 28 42 32

LIST.CO.UK/FESTIVALS

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2014 THE GUIDE TO SCOTLAND’S FESTIVALS

DanceLive 5, 73 Edinburgh International Magic Festival 51 Faclan: The Hebridean Book Festival 79 Falkirk Tryst Festival 37 Garioch Theatre Festival 50 Glasgow Festival of Arabic Dance 78 Glasgow International Comedy Festival 29 Imaginate Festival 37, 38 Lorn Drama Festival 30 Manipulate Visual Theatre Festival 25 Mayfesto 37 National Festival of Youth Theatre 51 Northern Streams 32 Oktoberfest 78 Paranormal Scotland 79, 80 Perth Winter Festival 81 Prestwick World Festival of Flight 68 Previously . . . Scotland’s History Festival 82 Puppet Animation Festival 30 Surge 55 Tin Forest 55 Totfest 81 Ullapool Dance Festival 28 Wee Chill 78

LOCATION The numbered order of the following areas corresponds to the map on pages 94–95.

1. SCOTTISH BORDERS Alchemy Film and Moving Image Festival 5, 12, 31 Beyond Borders International Festival of Literature and Thought 66 Border Gaitherin – Coldstream 42 Borders Book Festival 4, 46 Borders Festival Of The Horse 39 Denholm Folk Festival 82 Imaginarium Festival 77 Innerleithen Music Festival 63 Kelburn Garden Party 45, 52 Kelso Bikefest 53 Kelso Country and Western Festival 37 Music at Paxton 54 Newcastleton Traditional Music Festival 52 Peebles Arts Festival 64 Peebles Beltane Festival 48 Peebles Food Festival 79 Scottish Borders Walking Festival 68 Stowed Out Festival 63 TweedLove Bike Festival 20, 42 Tweed Valley Forest Festival 79 Yetholm Walking Festival 43

2. AYRSHIRE Ardrossan Music Experience Auchinleck Alive and Kicking Festival Ayrshire Beer Festival Boswell Book Festival Burns an’ a’ That! Festival Cumnock Tryst Darvel Music Festival Dundonald Music Festival Freckfest Girvan Traditional Folk Festival Irvine Valley Walking Festival Isle of Arran Mountain Festival Largs Viking Festival Live @ Troon Music Festival Marymass Festival Mauchline Holy Fair McLellan Arts Festival Prestwick World Festival of Flight Saltcoats Queen of the Sea Festival Septembayr Tidelines Book Festival

44 51 74 37 40 74 34 40 50 36 39 39 67 69 62 42 63 68 54 68 66

3. DUMFRIES & GALLOWAY Big Burns Supper 20, 25 Dumfries & Galloway Science Festival 33 Dumfries and Galloway Arts Festival 39 Eden Festival 46 Flavour Fortnight 67 Galloway Music Festival 29 Kirkcudbright Jazz Festival 46 Knockengorroch World Ceilidh 4, 39 Lockerbie Jazz Festival 73 Moniaive Folk Festival 37 Moniaive Michaelmas Bluegrass Festival 73 Newton Stewart Walking Festival 37 Portpatrick Folk Festival 69 Spring Fling 42 Stranraer RNLI Park Fest 64 Wickerman Festival 55, 56 Wigtown Book Festival 72, 73 Wild Autumn Festival 77 Wild Spring Festival 31

4. EDINBURGH & LOTHIANS ALOUD – Inky Fingers Minifest Balerno Music Festival Bathgate Music Festival Beltane Fire Festival Biomedical Ethics Film Festival Burnsfest Carrying Stream Festival Dead by Dawn

59 72 68 33, 36 83 25 81 12, 32

Dunbar SciFest 30 Eat, Drink, Discover Scotland 16, 71 Edinburgh Art Festival 56, 61 Edinburgh Festival Fringe 59, 60 Edinburgh Festival of Cycling 46 Edinburgh Independent Radical Book Fair 73 Edinburgh International Book Festival 61, 62 Edinburgh International Fashion Festival 53 Edinburgh International Festival 61, 62 Edinburgh International Festival of Middle Eastern Spirituality and Peace 28 Edinburgh International Film Festival 12, 48, 61 Edinburgh International Harp Festival 31 Edinburgh International Magic Festival 51 Edinburgh International Science Festival 31, 60 Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival 54, 61 Edinburgh Mela 21, 61, 67 Edinburgh Mountain Film Festival 26 Edinburgh Short Film Festival 45 Edinburgh World Justice Festival 74 Edinburgh’s Christmas 80 Edinburgh’s Festival of Ireland 29 Edinburgh’s Hogmanay 61, 84 Electric Frog 36 Festival of Politics 61, 62 Forth Bridges Festival 21, 68 Fringe by the Sea 59 GastroFest 31 Haddington Festival 43 Hidden Door 28 Hispanic Festival 74 Imaginate Festival 37, 38 John Muir Festival 4, 32, 34 Just Festival 58 Lammermuir Festival 71 Leith Festival 48 LeithLate 43 Lennoxlove Book Festival 81 Linlithgow Book Festival 80 Linlithgow Civic Festival 43 Linlithgow Folk Festival 71 Loanhead Music Festival 46 Meadows Festival 45 Middle Eastern Film Festival 39 Midlothian Science Festival 76 Midlothian Walking Festival 62 Northern Streams 32 Penfest 70 Pentlands Walking Festival 56 Pussy Whipped Festival 32 Samhuinn Fire Festival 80 Scottish Birdfair 38 91

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THE GUIDE TO SCOTLAND’S FESTIVALS 2014

Scottish International Storytelling Festival 75, 78 Scottish Winter Chess Festival 84 Belhaven Best Dunbar Traditional Music Festival 72 Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo 58 Royal Highland Show 49 Saltire 83 Trad on the Tyne 66 Tradfest 34 Truckfest Scotland 59 Turing Festival 58 Wee Dub Festival 29 Wee Festival of Words 50 West End Beer Festival 80 Whisky Fringe 59

5. GREATER GLASGOW 48 Hour Film Project 83 Arches Live 68 ARIKA14 82 Aye Write! Glasgow’s Book Festival 30, 33 BBC Good Food Show Scotland 77 Behaviour 5, 28 Biggar Little Festival 77 Booked!

38 Bring It All Home 31 Buzzcut Festival 32 Celtic Connections 24, 25 Coloursfest 33 Cottier Chamber Project 45 Counterflows 5, 31 Creative Loop Student Media Festival 30 Creative Mackintosh Festival 77 Culture 2014 4, 10, 24 Deep Fried Film Festival 12, 67 Douglasdale Folk Festival 72 Early Years Festival 51 Electric Glen 26 Encounters Festival 74 FeastRen 67 Festival 2014 4, 10, 54 Glasgow Americana 74 Glasgow Festival of Arabic Dance 78 Glasgow Film Festival 12, 28 Glasgow Improvisers Orchestra GIOfest VII 83 Glasgow International Comedy Festival 29 Glasgow International Festival Of Visual Art 30, 32 Glasgow International Jazz Festival 50 Glasgow Loves Hogmanay 84 Glasgow Open House Art Festival 31 Glasgow Science Festival 44 Glasgow Short Film Festival 26 Glasgow Youth Film Festival 26 92

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Glasgow’s St. Patrick’s Festival Glasgow’s Whisky Festival Ha-Ha Hamilton Lanark Music Connections Les-Fest Mayfesto Merchant City Festival Motherwell Beer Festival New Year’s Revolution Oktoberfest Paisley Beer Festival Partick Folk Festival Piping Live!

Refugee Week Scotland Scotland Loves Anime Scotland’s Festival of History Slowfest Sound Thought Spree Strathaven Balloon Festival Streetland Surge Take One Action Film Festival Tin Forest Wee Chill Wee Write!

West End Festival

28 39 74 66 51 37 55 69 24 78 32 42 62 48 76 64 84 24 74 64 45 55 72 55 78 28 5, 44

6. ARGYLL & THE ISLES Best of the West Festival 71 Cantilena Festival on Islay 53 Cowalfest 75 Dunoon Film Festival 48 FyneFest 48 Isle of Bute Jazz Festival 36 Isle of Colonsay: Festival of Spring 32 Isle of Gigha Music Festival 49, 51 Loch Fyne Food Fair 39 Lorn Drama Festival 30 Mendelssohn on Mull 53 Mull of Kintyre Music Festival 64 Oban Winter Festival 83 Sail and Oar Festival on Cumbrae 62 Tarbert Book Festival 83 Tarbert Music Festival 72 Tarbert Seafood Festival 17, 52 Tarbert Traditional Boat Festival and Loch Fyne Viking Festival 50 TT16 Film Festival 64 Walk Islay 31

7. STIRLING, LOCH LOMOND AND THE TROSSACHS Bloody Scotland Callander Jazz and Blues Festival

70, 72 75

Doune the Rabbit Hole 64 Falkirk Tryst Festival 37 Hippodrome Festival of Silent Cinema 4, 12, 29 Nature-Fest 36 Ochils Festival 43 Off the Page Stirling Book Festival 71 Paranormal Scotland 79, 80 Scribbler’s Picnic Music Festival and Funday 38 Strathyre Music Festival 42

8. PERTHSHIRE, ANGUS & DUNDEE Aberfeldy Film Festival 83 An Feis Mor: Scotland’s Festival Of Paddlesport 79 Angus Glens Walking Festival 43 Arbroath Sea Fest 62 Bon Scott Fest 63 Brechin Music Festival 67 Dare Protoplay 58, 59 Discovery Film Festival 12, 79 Dundead Horror Film Festival 33 Dundee Beer Festival 46 Dundee Blues Bonanza 51 Dundee Flower and Food Festival 17, 69 Dundee Literary Festival 78 Dundee Mountain Film Festival 12, 83 Dundee Rotary Oktoberfest 74 Dundee WestFest 45 Dundee Women’s Festival 28 Enchanted Forest 76 European Festival of Brass 2014 32 Glenfarg Folk Feast 62 Heart of Scotland Beer Festival 38 Highland Perthshire Cycling Festival 36 Horsecross Youth Arts Festival 48 Ickle Film Festival 68 JAM Festival 66 Kirriemuir Festival of Music and Song 69 Montrose Music Festival 40 NEoN Digital Arts Festival 80, 81 Niel Gow Annual Scottish Fiddle Festival 30 Perform in Perth 28 Perth All Scotland Accordion and Fiddle Festival 79 Perth Beer Festival 38 Perth Festival of the Arts 40 Perth Winter Festival 81 Potfest Scotland 44 Rewind Scotland: The 80s Festival 48 Ruthven Parish Festival 44 Solas Festival 50 Southern Fried Festival 56 T in the Park 52, 53 LIST.CO.UK/FESTIVALS

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2014 THE GUIDE TO SCOTLAND’S FESTIVALS

WinterWeek Winter Words Festival

28 26

Ugie Folk Festival University of Aberdeen May Festival Unsolved Festival

55 37 77

9. FIFE Auchtermuchty Festival Crail Festival Crail Food Festival Culross Festival Dunfermline Bruce Festival Dunfermline Folk Weekend East Neuk Festival Falkland Traditional Music Festival Fife Comedy Festival Fife Festival Of Music Fife Jazz Festival Fife Science Festival Fife Traditional Singing Festival Kingdom of Fife Real Ale, Cider and Perry Festival Kirkcaldy Film Festival National Festival of Youth Theatre On the Rocks Student Arts Festival Pittenweem Arts Festival Snowdrops by Starlight St Andrews Food and Drink Festival St Andrews Voices St Monans Community Arts Festival St Monans Sea Queen Day StAnza: Scotland’s Poetry Festival Totfest Yellae Deuks

59 55 17, 48 63 53 79 21, 51 51 30 25 26 29 38 36 72 51 31 59 26 17, 81 78 71 48 28, 29 81 32

10. ABERDEEN & GRAMPIAN Aberdeen and North East CAMRA Beer Festival 17, 42 Aberdeen Film Festival 73 Aberdeen International Youth Festival 56 Aberdeen Jazz Festival 29 Aberdeen Winter Festival 80 Aboyne and Deeside Festival 56 Ballater Walking Festival 39 Banff Mountain Film Festival 25 DanceLive 5, 73 Enchanted Castle 80 Garioch Theatre Festival 50 Granite City Country Music Festival 66 Huntly Book Festival 74 Huntly Hairst – Food and Farming Festival 17, 70 Mearns Connections Festival 58 Portsoy Music Festival: The Fourth Haal 42 Room to Roam 67 Scottish Traditional Boat Festival 46, 51 Stonehaven Folk Festival 53 Strichen Festival 40

11. HIGHLANDS Aviemore Walking Festival 38 Baxters Loch Ness Marathon and Festival of Running 22, 73 Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival 62, 67 Blas Festival 68 Blazin’ in Beauly 77 Bootstock 70 Brew at the Bog 36 Cromarty Film Festival 84 FebruaryFest 25 Feis an Eilean 51 Feis na Mara 75 Findhorn Bay Arts Festival 4, 72 Food on Film 25 Fort William Mountain Festival 28 Gairloch Walking Festival 71 Golden Spurtle World Porridge Making Championship 76 goNORTH Creative Industries Festival 43 Happyness Comedy Festival 40, 42 Highland Archaeology Festival 73 Howlin’ Fling 54 Inverness Book Festival 64 Inverness Film Festival 81 Inverness Whisky Festival 17, 30 Islay Book Festival 76 Islay Sessions 82 Isle of Jura Music Festival 73 Isle of Skye Accordion and Fiddle Festival 40 Jocktoberfest 69 Lagavulin Islay Jazz Festival 71 Lairg Music Festival 50 Loch Lomond Food and Drink Festival 69 Loch Ness Film Festival 55 Loch Shiel Spring Festival 36 Loopallu 73 Lossiemouth Folk Club Festival 53 Moray Walking Festival 49 Nairn Book and Arts Festival 68 Northern Nashville Caithness Country Music Festival 32 Northern Roots Music Festival 43 Scottish Six Days Trial 36 Skye Book Festival 68 Skye Storytelling Festival and Glendale Gathering 48 Skye Swing Jazz Festival 80 Speyfest 56 Spirit of Moray Book Festival 71 Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival 34

Tiree Music Festival TMSA Keith Festival Torridon Real Ale Festival UCI Mountain Bike World Cup Ullapool Book Festival Ullapool Dance Festival Ullapool Guitar Festival Wild Lochaber Festival

54 45 74 22, 45 37 28 75 39

12. OUTER HEBRIDES Ceolas 53 Faclan: The Hebridean Book Festival 79 Harris Arts Festival 51 Hebridean Celtic Festival 53, 54

13. ORKNEY Orkney Blues Festival 68, 69 Orkney Folk Festival 5, 39 Orkney International Science Festival 68 Orkney Jazz Festival 31 Orkney Storytelling Festival 78 Papay Gyro Nights 26 St Magnus International Festival 49

14. SHETLAND Screenplay Shetland Accordion and Fiddle Festival Shetland Blues Festival Shetland Fiddle Frenzy Shetland Folk Festival Shetland Guitar Festival Shetland Nature Festival Shetland Wool Week UnstFest Up Helly Aa Wordplay

12, 66 76 71 59 34 82 53 76 52 25 826

SCOTLAND-WIDE Africa in Motion Film Festival 73 Festival of Dangerous Ideas 46 Festival of Museums 38 French Film Festival 82 Italian Film Festival Scotland 28 Luminate: Scotland’s Creative Ageing Festival 12, 74 Previously . . . Scotland’s History Festival 82 Puppet Animation Festival 30 Scottish Food & Drink Fortnight 69 Scottish Mental Health Arts and Film Festival 12, 74, 76 UK Green Film Festival 43 Young at Heart Festival 29

93

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*SFG14-Map and backpage.indd 94

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O U TER H E BRI D E S

12

Lochmaddy

Tarbert

Stornoway

VisitScotland Information Centre (All-year) VisitScotland Information Centre (Seasonal)

11

Ullapool

Lochinver

Durness Thurso

Stromness

Kirkwall

13 ORKNEY ISLANDS

Fraserburgh

14

SHETLAND ISLANDS

Sumburgh

Lerwick

*SFG14-Map and backpage.indd 95

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6

Fort William

7

Banff

Alford

10

Braemar

8

Na t io n a l P a r k

9

4

Northern Ireland Stranraer

3 Castle Douglas

Dumfries

Kirkcudbright

Newton Stewart

2

5

Gretna

Hawick

1

Aberdeen

Fraserburgh

Stonehaven

Inverurie

Huntly

C a ir n g o r ms Ballater Banchory

Aviemore

Dufftown

Inverness Daviot Wood

Fort Augustus

Drumnadrochit

North Kessock

11

© Ashworth Maps & Interpretation Ltd 2014. Contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown copyright and database right 2014.

England

Strontian Brechin The Scottish Borders Pitlochry Ayrshire & The Isle of Arran Aberfeldy Blairgowrie Dumfries & Galloway Arbroath Dunkeld Dundee Craignure Edinburgh & The Lothians Tyndrum Crieff Oban Loch Lomond & Greater Glasgow & The Clyde Valley St Andrews The Trossachs Inveraray Perth Callander Argyll & The Isles National Park Tarbet Anstruther Stirling Loch Lomond & The Trossachs and Kirkcaldy Dunfermline The Forth Valley Aberfoyle Dunoon Perthshire, Dundee & Angus Balloch EDINBURGH Falkirk The Kingdom of Fife GLASGOW Tarbert Aberdeen City and Shire Bowmore Rothesay The Highlands Peebles Kelso Outer Hebrides Lanark Brodick Melrose Orkney Campbeltown Ayr Shetland Jedburgh

Ireland

8 9 10 11 12 13 14

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Castlebay

Lochboisdale

Portree

Lochmaddy

JOIN THE PARTY Be part of a national celebration counting down to the XX Commonwealth Games.

Culture 2014 will showcase dance, theatre, music, visual arts, comedy and so much more.

At Games time, Festival 2014 will animate the city of Glasgow. Everyone’s invited!

To find out more, go to Glasgow2014.com/culture *SFG14-Map and backpage.indd 96

09/01/2014 13:26