2013 THE GUIDE TO SCOTLAND’S FESTIVALS
27–28 JUL
AUGUST
TRAQUAIR FAIR FAMILY / MULTI-ARTS Traquair House, Innerleithen, traquair.co.uk/content/ traquair-fair
The annual family fair promises a full range of music, dance, crafts, theatre and non-stop entertainment for all. 30 JUL–3 AUG
AFRICAN DRUM FESTIVAL COMMUNITY / MUSIC African Drum Village, Glenisla, africandrumvillage.com
A five-day festival of African drumming and culture. As well as workshops in drumming, tuition will be given in singing, African languages, cookery and musical instruments for everyone from absolute beginners to more experienced players. TBC JUL
ABOYNE AND DEESIDE FESTIVAL FAMILY / MULTI-ARTS Various venues, Deeside, 807799 772316, aboyneanddeesidefestival.org.uk
A small yet diverse festival, now in its 22nd year, that offers a selection of classical, folk and contemporary music, politics, thought, art, drama, literature and film.
1–17 AUG
HARRIS ARTS FESTIVAL FAMILY / MULTI-ARTS Various venues, Isles of Lewis and Harris, harrisarts.org
This festival displays the Hebrides’ passion and aptitude for luring arts fans to idyllic locations and rewarding them with a showcase of professional performances and local artistry. Now in its 21st year, the festival is the highlight of a summer-long programme of events, illustrated talks, concerts and workshops. 1 AUG–1 SEP
EDINBURGH ART FESTIVAL ART / FAMILY Various venues, Edinburgh, 0131 226 6558, 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. 2013 marks the 10th 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.
TBC JUL
FUNNY IN FALKIRK
2–3 AUG
COMEDY Various venues, Falkirk, 0844 481 8108, funnyinfalkirk.com
BELLADRUM TARTAN HEART FESTIVAL
Falkirk delivers the mirth via live comedy, films and art with a top-notch line-up of familiar comedy faces, covering both boundary-pushing contemporary comedy and family-friendly appeal.
MUSIC Belladrum, Inverness, tartanheartfestival.co.uk
Now in its tenth year, this favourite of the music festival scene is back with a carnivalthemed birthday celebration. As well as the music – which
SPOTLIGHT ON . . . PIPING LIVE! A great set of pipes Piping is (a)live and kicking across Glasgow in August, thanks to this international celebration of chanter charms and bagpipe traditions. Coinciding with the World Pipe Band Championships (17–18 Aug, Glasgow Green), it welcomes nearly 40,000 people over seven days, with indoor and outdoor activities, masterclasses, a street café, lectures, museum tours, Gaelic language and Scots song workshops, and recitals. The city centre hosts daytime events, from art and photographic exhibitions, through whisky tastings and folk sessions, to food and drink marquees, while evenings offer the mainstage concerts. Glasgow’s National Piping Centre functions as a lively festival hub into the wee small hours, and its café sees pipers and traditional musicians perform in a laid-back environment – not to mention the daily (and ingeniously named) Pipe Idol contest, which pits the world’s top young pipers head-to-head in a battle of the chanters that would render Simon Cowell speechless. (Nicola Meighan) ■ The National Piping Centre, Glasgow, 11-18 Aug, pipinglive. co.uk, theworlds.co.uk
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