Latest news with #EastNeukFestival
Scotsman
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Legends of historic Fife cave inhabited by saint to be told in film screened in cave itself
Sign up to our Arts and Culture newsletter, get the latest news and reviews from our specialist arts writers Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... It is a natural cave carved by an underground river thousands of years ago and was the home of a miracle-working saint, whose arm bone is believed to have helped Robert the Bruce's army win the Battle of Bannockburn. Now a film telling the story, mystery and legends of Saint Fillan's cave in the East Neuk of Fife is to be shown in the tiny cave itself. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The Light, the Bell & the Burden explores mysteries around belief, folklore and healing through St Fillan and the relics connected to him. Amongst these relics are eight river stones which are said to have specific healing properties; the saint's bronze bell known as the Bernane, also used for healing and the arm and hand of the saint himself, which is said to have glowed with light allowing the saint to write sermons in the cave, in the village of Pittenweem. Commissioned by ENF with support from Event Scotland's National Events Programme, the video will be installed inside the coastal cave measuring around 10 metres by six metres, where St Fillan is said to have lived as a hermit towards the end of his life in the eighth century. It features a recorded performance of The Witch of Leanachan, a dramatic and haunting piece written by fiddle player and composer Donald Grant, who is joined by 'maverick', genre-bending cellist Su-A-Lee of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Filmmaker Andy McGregor, whose previous audio-visual work includes creative direction of the annual Castle of Light show at Edinburgh Castle, large scale video installations for Walter Scott 250th anniversary and a long association with the East Neuk Festival, which commissioned the film, said: 'It's an honour to be invited to make this work for this the 20th year of the Festival and for this unique and hallowed space. The story of St Fillan and the wider history of Pittenweem establish themes which resonate for me personally, and – I hope – universally when expressed in the work. 'I have always been drawn to the area where belief and ritual overlap and to spaces, objects, stories and sounds.' Robert the Bruce is said to have had a reliquary containing St Fillan's arm bone, which he brought to the Battle of Bannockburn. Legend claims the bone fell out, indicating a 'miraculous sign', which was credited with victory in the battle. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad St Fillan's Cave is embedded in a natural rock behind the small town of Pittenweem. Svend McEwan-Brown, director of East Neuk Festival, said: 'Festivals happen in special places for a reason – it's the magic combination of place and performances that give them the edge when it comes to leaving audiences with incredible memories of magical experiences. 'Andy McGregor has been involved with ENF since the very beginning and it is wonderful to welcome him back to create what I am sure will be a special work in a wonderfully atmospheric space.' Rebecca Edser, head of EventScotland said: 'The Light, the Bell & the Burden installation utilises the power of events to showcase one of Scotland's many fascinating tales from our history. EventScotland is delighted to support the East Neuk Festival in their 21st year, where a range of talented artists are set to gather in some of the most charming villages, and venues in Scotland. 'The festival is part of an exciting portfolio of events taking place across the country that we are supporting to deliver a wide range of economic and social benefits and strengthen our position as a world-leading tourism and events destination.'
Daily Record
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Scotland's top 10 unique summer 2025 events including music and food festivals
From the Borders Book Festival to Kelburn Garden Party, there's plenty to keep Scots busy in summer Now that June has begun, festival season in Scotland has officially started. From food fairs to music festivals, summertime is jam-packed in Scotland. Over the coming months, there will be one-of-a-kind festivals taking place in every corner of the country. Whether you are in the Scottish Borders or the Outer Hebrides, you won't be far from at least one—and they are all worth travelling for too. In honour of the beginning of summer, VisitScotland has rounded up 10 of the best unique events taking place across the country between June and September. Book festivals, live music by the sea, and dog shows with a twist are just a few of the highlights. Read on for 10 one-of-a-kind events in Scotland this summer. More information about each one can be found on the VisitScotland website. Outer Hebrides Wildlife Festival, 1-28 June All throughout June, the Outer Hebrides will be celebrating its one-of-a-kind wildlife and natural beauty through the community-led Outer Hebrides Wildlife Festival. It will feature everything from guided walks and boat tours to nature writing workshops and Gaelic sessions. According to VisitScotland, the Outer Hebrides Wildlife Festival presents an opportunity to immerse yourself in the region's jaw-dropping landscapes. During the festival, you will have the opportunity to spot animals such as sea eagles, puffins, dolphins, and whales. Borders Book Festival, 12-15 June 2025 Based at Harmony Garden in Melrose in the heart of the Scottish Borders, the Borders Book Festival is a four-day event dedicated to all things literary. The festival will be hosting more than 100 events, from author talks and comedy shows to a dedicated family book festival. Whether you are a book fanatic or not, it is an absolute must-visit. Alongside the literary lineup, there will be health and wellbeing sessions, as well as live performances from talented local artists and musicians. Leith Festival, 14-22 June 2025 Edinburgh's buzzy Leith district will be playing host to a week-long festival that dates all the way back to 1907. All about local pride and community, the Leith Festival is put on by and for the people of Leith. Beginning with a Gala Day, the festival will feature a number of stalls from local makers and artists—as well as live music and even a dog show. During the week, there will be no shortage of opportunities to get involved. East Neuk Festival, 25-29 June 2025 The East Neuk of Fife is widely regarded as one of Scotland's most picturesque regions. It features scenic villages and towns such as Crail, Anstruther, Kilrenny, St Monans, and Elie. The East Neuk Festival will bring an eclectic lineup of music to Fife's chapels, halls and harbours. Throughout the week, classical, jazz, folk and experimental artists will all take to the stage. Kelburn Garden Party, 3-7 July Based in the magical grounds of a painted 13th-century castle along Scotland's west coast, Kelburn Garden Party is an arts festival unlike any other. The festival is an amazing blend of music, visual art, performance, and nature. Easily accessed from Glasgow, the festival features hidden forest stages and fascinating installations. Each year, it brings together a loyal and diverse crowd from near and far. Dornoch Beer and Music Festival, 26 July Based in the scenic Sutherland town of Dornoch, the Dornoch Beer and Music Festival brings together music, family fun, and of course craft beer. There will be more than 100 beers and ciders on tap, as well as lineup of live performances including the Red Hot Chilli Pipers. There will also be plenty for younger festival-goers to get up to. From bouncy castles to face painting, there will be fun for everyone. Fringe by the Sea, 1-10 August 2025 Across 10 days at the start of August, Fringe by the Sea will bring approximately 250 events to the idyllic seaside town of North Berwick. Expect music, comedy, literature, film, family fun, and much more Meanwhile, visitors to Fringe by the Sea will be able to enjoy some world-class cuisine at its Street Food Village. There will also be a Makers' Market, filled with crafts, local produce, and one-of-a-kind finds. Galloway Country Fair, 9-10 August 2025 Based at the instantly recognisable pink Drumlanrig Castle, the Galloway Country Fair is ideal for those after something a bit different. The fair is also a great place to take part in some good old-fashioned outdoor fun. Visitors to Galloway Country Fair can expect a blend of country sports, bird of prey displays, family-friendly activities, and much more. Among the highlights will be an entertaining show starring skilled dogs and a team of determined Indian Runner ducks. Rising North Festival, 15-17 August Rising North Festival will return to Shetland this August with an even bigger programme all about homegrown talent and live music. The festivities will kick off in Lerwick on Thursday, before building up to two nights of action at Clickimin Leisure Centre. The 2025 lineup for Rising North Festival will include rising Scottish star Callum Beattie, as well as whole host of talented local artists. The festival will wrap up with a laid-back finale at the Mareel multi-purpose entertainment venue on the Sunday. Stranraer Oyster Festival, 12-14 September 2025 Finally, the Stranraer Oyster Festival will wrap up the summer with a jam-packed weekend. There will be tasty food, local culture, and lots for families to enjoy. Dedicated to seafood and coastal culture, the main highlight will be the Scottish Oyster Shucking Championships. However, there will also be live cooking demos from top chefs, music, markets, and more.
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Scotsman
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Scotland Summer Events 2025: Here are 10 unique events taking place from the Borders to the Highlands - including Fringe by the Sea
4 . East Neuk Festival, June 25-29 The East Neuk of Fife, famous for its picturesque coastline and colourful harbours, is home to a festival that brings globally recognised music to some of Scotland's most charming seaside villages - Crail, Anstruther, Kilrenny, St Monans and Elie (pictured). Over five days, the region comes alive with performances from leading classical, jazz, folk and experimental artists, all taking to intimate venues like historic chapels, village halls and harbourside spaces. It opens with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and guitarist Sean Shibe, features all five of Beethoven's late quartets performed by top ensembles, and continues with a special performance of Beethoven's Septet. It's a unique mix of big talent and small-town charm. | Canva/Getty Images
Scotsman
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Pianist Yeol Eum Son on tackling Beethoven with the SCO: 'He tells us a lot about determination'
Ahead of her performances of Beethoven's Third Piano Concerto in Edinburgh and Glasgow, Yeol Eum Son talks to David Kettle about the demands of international touring, the importance of building musical relationships, and why playing with the SCO is 'bliss' Sign up to our Arts and Culture newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... South Korean pianist Yeol Eum Son is fast becoming a familiar face in Scotland. She made her debut here – with Ravel's fiendish Left Hand Concerto – alongside the Iceland Symphony Orchestra back in early 2020, in one of the final concerts before Covid locked us all down. She returned to great acclaim at Fife's East Neuk Festival in 2023, and made her Edinburgh International Festival debut just a few weeks later. She's clearly getting to know the place well: 'I love the Scottish landscape – and how foggy it can be!' she laughs. Yeol Eum is forging her strongest relationship, however, with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra. She launched that partnership with Mozart in December 2022, and returns with more Mozart – a duo of contrasting piano concertos, Nos 21 and 24 – in October this year. 'They're such a tasteful band,' she says. 'Everything they do is so organic, stylish, vigorous yet embracing. The last time I played the Mozart Concerto with them, they played Dvořák's Symphony No. 7 in the second half – I was so impressed at how they sounded so completely but wonderfully different than they did in Mozart.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad As we approach the close of the current SCO season, however, Yeol Eum turns to Beethoven, and specifically his powerful Piano Concerto No. 3. She might be famed for her tender touch, her refinement and poetic elegance, but she's just as capable of fiery, muscular playing. 'Beethoven's music can be highly assertive and persistent,' she explains. 'He tells us a lot about determination.' Yeol Eum Son She draws parallels, however, between the two composers whose music she's (so far) performed with the SCO. 'Of course Beethoven admired Mozart so much, and the Third Concerto is known to be heavily influenced by Mozart's Concerto in the same key – No. 24 in C minor, K491.' Perhaps not coincidentally, that's one of the two Mozart concertos Yeol Eum has planned for her performance with the SCO later this year. All this talk of Mozart and Beethoven, however, might be doing Yeol Eum a disservice. She takes enormous pride in the breadth of her repertoire, and indeed in her championing of some unfairly overlooked musical figures – from Alkan to Lekeu and Galuppi, and particularly the fascinating Soviet jazz/classical crossover composer Nikolai Kapusin, to whose music she's devoted an entire CD. 'Yes, for me it's important to be eclectic in what I play, but only in the sense that I don't only eat Korean food all my life either. I simply love and want the diversity. But it's also true that I do learn a lot about one thing from another – I'd have a different perspective on Rachmaninov, for example, after playing Bach. And vice versa. Or I'd think differently about playing Chopin after working on a piece by a living composer. I love Mozart and Beethoven, but I need lots of control for them as I'm extremely exposed. I get much more nervous when I'm playing those composers on stage, too.' It's somewhat surprising to hear a musician actually admitting to nerves. But Yeol Eum a disarmingly straightforward, direct figure, and a performer who clearly thinks deeply about the music she plays – and, importantly, about her own relationship with it. Perhaps that honesty and serious-mindedness also contributed to another success in her earlier life – hugely popular monthly columns in one of South Korea's leading Sunday newspapers, which were later collected together into a best-selling book. She still loves writing as a counterpoint to playing, she says – after all, you can quickly change and improve something you've written, whereas a performance happens entirely in the moment. With all that journalistic expertise, however, let's turn the tables. What would she ask herself if she were in my position? 'Wow, that's an excellent question!' she laughs. And it elicits another disarmingly honest response. 'You know, generally speaking, as I'm a musician myself, I'm not that curious about musicians and their lives any more. There are many pianists and musicians that I adore with all my heart, but I don't particularly want to meet them or interview them. Instead, after listening to them playing, I'd love to point out a few places and ask why they play those sections as they do. So maybe I would do the same to myself.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Considering that deep thinking, it's perhaps not surprising that Yeol Eum considers herself 'generally a shy person', though it's perhaps more eyebrow-raising that she continues: 'It sometimes takes me a while to create rapport in making music.' How does she manage to balance that with being constantly on the road – or, more accurately, in the air – and perpetually developing new relationships with ensembles and individual musicians around the world? Just this season, for example, she performs right across Europe, tours the USA and Canada, and has a number of recitals in South Korea too. 'I actually almost didn't realise, until quite recently, that this lifestyle is an unusual one,' she admits. 'I can't even say if I enjoy it or dislike it – I think I just accept it. You can always complain about your situation, but in the same way, you can always be happy too. Does that make sense?' Yeol Eum Son The answer to establishing rapport in an itinerant career, of course, is in return engagements – like those in her fast-developing relationship with the SCO. 'I don't think there are many musicians who wouldn't want to play with the SCO, since they're such a superb ensemble,' she smiles. But there are other factors, too. 'To be honest, since I'm travelling so much, just to be able to picture a city, an airport I already know, a venue whose acoustics I can remember, and an orchestra that sounds a particular way – all that already gives me a big comfort. The location, the venue, the audience, even the piano all play their part in me wanting to come back. And being in the Usher Hall or Glasgow City Halls together with the SCO is bliss.'
