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The Herald Scotland
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
Scotland's 10 best summer festivals that are not Edinburgh Festival
So what other festival treats can we snaffle up in Scotland over the summer? Here are 10 that might just be worth risking the weather for. TRNSMT is Glasgow's big summer music festival (Image: free) Eden Festival Moffat, June 12-15 Growing out of the Wickerman Festival, Eden is now in its 14th year and prides itself on being a family-friendly festival with activities for all ages. Wellness is a big strand of the festival with an extensive programme of workshops (if you've ever wanted to make nipple tassels, well, here's your chance). But of course the main draw will be its wildly eclectic music programme (more than 250 acts over 10 stages) which takes in DJs, Dub and Jungle sound systems, English punk duo Bob Vylan, Africa's Orchestra Baobab, American hip-hop group Slum Village and Scotland's own The Bluebells. Someone in that line-up is going to get those tassels twirling, surely? The Bluebells (Image: free) Solas Festival Errol Park, Perthshire, June 20-22 'A Summer Celebration of Music, Arts and Wellbeing' is the pitch for this bespoke festival located between Perth and Dundee. That means everything from yoga sessions to spoon carving and Indian Head Massages. There's also music and arts onsite, with appearances from the likes of headliner Hamish Hawk, Scottish folk band Kinnaris Quartet and Iranian classical musician Aref Ghorbani, as well as a literature programme that features Len Pennie. Len Pennie (Image: free) East Neuk Festival Fife, June 25-29 No one ever needs an excuse to visit the East Neuk, but this festival is a gorgeous optional extra at the end of June. Classical music is at the heart of it and it takes place in churches and town halls in Crail, Anstruther, Kilrenny, Cellardyke, and on Bowhouse Farm. This year's programme sees a focus on Beethoven's Late Quartets and Schubert Song Cycles, and features an impressive array of classical musicians including Diyang Mei, the Belcea, Castilian, Elias and Pavel Haas Quartets, Sally Beamish, tenor Mark Padmore and baritone James Newby. Jazz is represented by the Euan Stevenson Trio and the Tom Smith Septet. Pipe player Kathryn Tickell's show is already a sellout, but there will be a chance to see oud maestro Nizar Rohana. And guitarist Sean Shibe will be giving a number of performances over the long weekend. Nizar Rohana (Image: Nizar Rohana) If this gives you a taste for classical music near the seaside then you should check out the Lammermuir Festival in East Lothian ( in September. Kelburn Garden Party Kelburn Castle and Estate, Ayrshire, July 3-7 Back for a 15th year, Kelburn Garden Party is a little mini Glastonbury in the middle of Ayrshire. Combining music, art installations and theatre, it's the chance to lose yourself just off the A78. The music programme is eclectic with a capital E. Peruvian singer-songwriter Soufia Kourtesis will make her Scottish debut, Drum 'n' bass master Dillinja will also be on hand and there will be sets from Jamz Supernova, Shooglenifty and The Rebecca Vasmant Ensemble. And, of course, you have to explore the Neverending Glen. HebCelt Festival Isle of Lewis, July 16-19 HebCelt is nearly 30 now and it's now difficult to imagine a Scottish summer without it. This year's music programme mixes up Scottish folk, trad and pop names, with Tide Lines, Eddi Reader, pedal harpist and clarsach player Ciorstaidh Beaton, Kassidy and the indestructible Lulu all booked to play (and that's just a small sample of the line-up). NB, this is a festival where the majority of acts are women. There are certain Glasgow festivals that might take a lesson. Meanwhile, An Lanntair will also be hosting music events alongside a hat making workshop and a couple of ceilidhs. TravFest25 Edinburgh, July 25-August 24 Lucie Barat (Image: Corinne Cumming) Breaching my 'strictly no Edinburgh guidelines', it seems worth flagging up the Traverse Theatre's festival programme which features three world premieres, three UK premieres and three Scottish premieres amongst its 12 productions. This summer will see the return of John Tiffany, former associate director of the National Theatre of Scotland, who's teaming up with writer Johnny McKnight to direct She's Behind You, exploring our love of panto. Meanwhile, Lucie Barat - sister of Libertines frontman Carl Barat - is bringing her autobiographical play Standing in the Shadows of Giants to Edinburgh for its world premiere. Other shows hail from Belfast and Nova Scotia. Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival Inverness, July 31-August 2 Now 21 years old, Belladrum has a line-up that might be aiming at the older brothers and sisters of TRNSMT attendees. Or maybe even their parents. This year's headliners are Texas, Supergrass and Paul Heaton (formerly of The Housemartins and The Beautiful South), with a supporting line that includes Tom Walker, Natasha Bedingfield, English rapper Example, the wonderful CMAT (the world's best pop star right now) and, umm, Gok Wan. Inevitably, there's a strong Scottish folk strand to the programme, with the likes of Karine Polwart and Tide Lines performing. And Doctor Who fans take note, recent The Herald Magazine cover star Peter Capaldi will also be playing. Fringe By the Sea North Berwick, August 1-10 This seaside adjunct to the main events in the capital has been going for the best part of two decades now and it provides a sweet-and-salty alternative to battling through the crowds on the Royal Mile. This year's line-up is typically eclectic, with everyone from Ruby Wax and Joe Wicks to Rory Stewart and Artie's Singing Kettle making an appearance. As well as a new music film festival event, music highlights include Hamish Hawk (clearly a mainstay on this year's festival circuit), Eddi Reader (ditto), Pictish Trail, Ezra Collective, Dave from Blur talking and DJing and, best of all, French synth duo Air, in town to perform their classic 1998 album Moon Safari in full. It's an album that sounded like a dreamy, hazy long-ago memory back then. What will it sound like now? Oh and The Boomtown Rats are about too, if that's your kind of thing. Nairn Book and Arts Festival Nairn, August 30-September 7 Sally Magnusson (Image: JULIE HOWDEN) The programme for this year's Highland celebration of literature, music, visual art and film will be announced later this month, but last year saw Sally Magnusson, Irvine Welsh and Jackie Kay all visit the Moray Firth. Team it up with a visit to the Wigtown Book Festival at the end of September and you'll have covered the country. Lochaber Live Fort William, September 12-14 Locabher no more, no more. (Sorry, not sorry.) After a 30-year absence, Lochaber Live has been brought back to life thanks to Manran's Gary Innes. Following last year's revival, it returns this September to An Aird Shinty Field in Fort WIlliam, with a programme full of familiar trad and folk names including Karen Matheson, The Peatbog Faeries, Trail West, Breabach, Cara DIllon, Fara and Manran, obviously. Fort William gets a bad name (it was voted 'worst place to visit in Scotland' last year), but it has a fine bookshop, a great cinema, and couldn't be better located. The revival of Lochaber Live is another step in the revival of the place. And how many times can you combine a festival weekend with a walk up Ben Nevis?
Daily Record
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Music fans will flock to family-friendly Eden Festival this weekend
This year's headliners are London two-piece Bob Vylan and a cornerstone of Detroit Hip-Hop, legendary rappers Slum Village. One of Scotland's most popular family-friendly music events, the Eden Festival, will get under way at Raehills Meadows, Johnstonebridge, on Friday. Running through to Sunday, the festival has more than 250 acts across 10 stages, and this year's headliners are London two-piece Bob Vylan and a cornerstone of Detroit Hip-Hop, legendary rappers Slum Village. Retaining its capacity of 4,499 party-goers, there will be more than 250 acts performing, covering all musical bases. Eden Festival director Hannah Gould, said: 'The Eden Crew are so excited to welcome everyone back to the garden for the next chapter in the best story around. 'Come lose yourself in the wonder of our stunning festival, set in the luscious south of Scotland. 'Music, arts, workshops and the best pub in the world. So gather up your troops and we will see you in that shiny field, Edenites old and new.' Fusing Grime, the rush of punk, alt-rap and rock with big spiky tunes, Bob Vylan are expected to be hit with Eden crowds. Humble As The Sun, their third album which was released last year, earned much acclaim with a NME declaring it as 'electrifying, experimental and empowering'. Eden is also expected to be swaying to some big beats and bigger rhymes well into the night when Slum Village take to the main stage. They've won fans by staying true to their ground-breaking ethos of collaboration and innovation, producing ground-breaking albums such as Trinity, F.U.N and Villa Manifesto. Neil Barnes as dance music master, Leftfield, will be in the garden to give an iconic DJ set. Edenits can also expect to see: Orchestra Baobab; Beluga Lagoon; Talisk; Fabio & Grooverider; Mungo's Hi Fi ft; Eva Lazarus; The Bluebells; and Tom McGuire &The Brassholes. Also hitting the stages will be The Joy Hotel; Face The West; Dlù; Samba Sene and Diwan; Cathal Murphy; Shoot Your Shot Takeover ft; Cormac; Angel D'lite; Bonzai Bonner; Anna Gram and Daniel Hive; Rumble In The Jungle Takeover ft; Dillinja; Harriet Jaxxon; Bish; Jinx In Dub; Refracta; Katalyst; Capitol 1212; Higher Meditation ft. Nia Songbird; Laura Jane Wilkie. And joining them will be: Mickey 9s; Pippa Blundell; Jarad Rowan; Samson Sounds; Calum Jones; Eyve; Curiosity Shop; Agbeko; Dàna; Charla Green; The Great Pleasure; The Cumbiatones; Mellow Party; Gaia; The Girobabies; Maz & The Phantasms; Motopia; Desiato DJ's; Strawberry Jam SoundSystem; Double Down Disco ft and Chris Astrojazz. There will also be family activities and workshops, talks, comedy, a kids field and all the usual Eden attractions.
The National
04-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The National
Scottish festival celebrating green initiatives and grassroots talent
Founded from the chill out zone in the famed Wickerman Festival, by a local youth counsellor and a bunch of bored teenagers, the Eden Festival launched as its own cultural gathering set within the picturesque Raehills Meadows, Moffat, Dumfriesshire, in 2009. With a key focus on celebrating Scotland's top grassroots artists across a plethora of genres, the Eden Festival has grown into a four-day event, from June 12 to 15, and is packed full of art installations and live music. Hannah Gould, festival director, believes one of the reasons why Eden Festival has become such a popular event is due to its mantra of welcoming everyone regardless of how 'quirky' they may or may not be. READ MORE: 'It's needed now more than ever': Thousands march in support of Scottish independence 'Our aim is to get a space where people can experiment, and audiences can discover something new, and they're not held in by anything,' she said. 'No matter how quirky or unquirky you are, we like to make everybody feel a part of the family, which I think is quite a unique vibe at Eden.' Ahead of this year's festival, organisers have unveiled its much-anticipated theme of space, inviting festival-goers to embody a cosmic experience. This year's headliners include performances from Bob Vylan, Slum Village, Beluga Lagoon, Mungo's Hi-fi, and Tom McGuire & the Brassholes. The 10-stage independent festival's musical offering spans genres, from world music to folk, funk, classical, jungle, dancehall, and everything in between. (Image: Canva) There are also dedicated nature and kids areas where people can either get away from the 'thick of it' or be in the thick of it if they wish. 'We have so many different stages, tents, workshops and installations that everybody's going to find something that they love and everybody's going to find like-minded people as well,' Gould said. Along with providing top performances, the Eden Festival also prides itself on its green initiatives, which include appointing an environmental warden, banning single-use plastics, and running a 'rent a cup' scheme where you pay a small deposit and keep your cup for the event. Gould said the festival has organised shuttle buses for the first time this year as they are encouraging more people to leave their cars at home and take public transport to the event. She added that the festival organisers take care every year when constructing the event space to make sure they rehome any animals which may be nesting within the grounds, which includes a group of ducks which return to the site every year. Gould explained that last year, the ducklings hatched at the start of the festival, so they set up a 'Garden of Eden' where they were blocked off from the public. 'Every year when we do the build, we always discover there's generally birds nesting either on the ground or in some of the buildings that we have, so there's always a big effort to make sure that they're rehomed,' Gould said. (Image: Love Moffat) With the festival being not for profit, Gould said they have rejected any corporate sponsorships, meaning they have been able to keep their creative freedoms. She added that throughout the years, the Eden Festival has built up strong connections with local traders who have helped the event flourish into what it has become today. Gould said: 'We're in a position where we use a lot of local suppliers who have been very good to us because we are a community interest and we're not for profit, you know, so we do call in a fair few favors.' However, Gould said one challenge the festival has faced this year is that due to the ongoing cost of living crisis, people have been unable to snap up their tickets earlier in the year. Gould explained that not having people buy tickets earlier makes it logistically harder to plan the event, but understands that people are finding it harder to pay for things up front when money is tight. She said: 'The biggest trouble this year is people buying tickets later. 'We used to find that people bought tickets more regularly throughout the year and we're finding this year, especially, that people seem to be leaving at the last minute to buy tickets.' Click here to buy your tickets to Eden Festival or to find out more information.
