Latest news with #KelburnGardenParty
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
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.
Daily Record
02-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
13th century colourful castle to host summer fest that promises music and adventure
Scotland's most enchanting festival returns this July transforming a colourful castle glen into a vibrant world of art and music Scotland's most enchanting festival is making a vibrant return this summer, transforming the grounds of Kelburn Castle into a living work of art and imagination. Set within a coastal glen near Fairlie, just an hour from Glasgow, the Kelburn Garden Party will mark its 15th year from July 3 to 7 with a bold programme of music, performance and site-specific installations, all nestled beneath the brightly painted turrets of a 13th-century castle. The event's centrepiece, The Neverending Glen , is back to lead audiences deep into the estate's ancient woodland, where art and nature blur into one surreal, immersive trail. This year's theme, Relics , invites festival-goers to reflect on time, memory and transformation through performances, sculptures and workshops scattered throughout the forest, Glasgow Live reports. 'The magic of the Neverending Glen isn't quite like anywhere else,' said Marina Renee-Cemmick, the trail's Creative Director. 'It's a place where the wild wooded glen meets the dynamism and energy of a festival. "To have such an expanse of art installations, performance and workshops interwoven with music and a sense of exploration, right at the heart of the festival, creates a truly unique experience.' Supported by EventScotland's National Events Funding Programme, the festival will feature more than 150 acts across ten stages, with everything from underground club sounds and global live bands to experimental performance and thought-provoking art. Yet it's in the woodland where Kelburn's spirit truly comes alive. Earlier this year, six artists were invited to take part in the Kelburn Glen Arts Residency, living and working on-site to develop pieces rooted in the glen's unique ecology and history. The resulting works by Finnian Croy, Imogen Hero, Melissa Rankin, Ruaridh Litster-Campbell, Sally Price and Suzi Cunningham, along with a collaborative installation developed under the mentorship of Sue Hill, range from interactive ceramics and organic sculptures to ritualistic journeys and sound meditations beneath Kelburn's legendary Yoko Yew tree. Elsewhere in the forest, a surreal troop of recycled apes by David Cemmick swing from the trees, while Delululand returns with Titty TV , a cheeky outdoor drag talk show. Emmaly Crimmel and Doug Thomas invite visitors to carve walking sticks from storm-felled trees, and Forget This Tree Collective will unveil a glowing tent that doubles as a reliquary of nature and rebellion. Also responding to the Relics theme, artist Lola Evelyn Ives constructs a Shrine to Anima Mundi , complete with bells, ribbons and ceramic tokens of gratitude, while returning sculptor Marcin Krupa adds three new carved wooden heads to his haunting series hidden in the woods. Visitors can seek out Neve Pearce's cyanotype-adorned puppet, or join eco-focused workshops hosted by Seamus Killick and Maya Rose Edwards to explore the stories and future of Scotland's peat bogs. Stuart Murdoch contributes a spinning sycamore seed sculpture suspended in the canopy, symbolising natural cycles and ancient wisdom. Alongside the visual works, Kelburn presents a packed programme of performances. Highlights include sound artist Axel van der Waal, sculptor Ashley Dudley-Smith, and the genre-bending Oceanallover, known for blending ritual, live art and theatre. Isla Greenwood's new piece, Landscapes of Trust , staged at Kelburn's iconic waterfall, will examine land rights, mental health and collective resistance. Festival-goers can join Maria McCavana's weekend of letter-writing workshops, which ends with a floating boat ritual, or explore contemplative sculpture paths by Sophia Blee and Annie Donaldson. Their daily boat-making workshops will encourage visitors of all ages to reflect and create. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Other standout installations include Jamie Temple's scorched wind turbine blades rising from the earth as warnings from a possible future, and Mia McGregor's evolving Cube Project , a collaborative sculpture inviting all to leave their mark across the weekend. The Neverending Glen will open with a special preview on Thursday 3 July, featuring a curator-led walk and live performances. Entry to the trail is included with a festival ticket, and audiences are encouraged to arrive early to explore the full experience. The full Kelburn Garden Party programme and workshop schedule can be found on the official website. With its stunning setting, eclectic line-up and surreal woodland world, this year's event promises to be the most magical yet.
Scotsman
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Under the Radar: Azamiah
Glasgow four-piece Azamiah will be touring their elegant, laid-back sound to all the right places over the next few months, write Olaf Furniss and Derick Mackinnon 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... Glasgow-based Azamiah have been a growing force on the city's burgeoning jazz scene since forming in 2020. Their debut album, IN PHASES, has notched up a respectable one million streams since its release in 2023 on the influential Rebecca Records, and the four-piece have picked up plays on Radio Scotland, BBC Introducing and Jazz FM, as well as performing at Kelburn Garden Party, Glasgow Jazz Festival and Wilderness. Azamiah Describing themselves as nu-jazz, Azamiah cite Hiatus Kaiyote, SAULT and James Blake as inspirations, but bring a rich tapestry of experience to their collective, ranging from open mic nights to playing in tech metal and radical prog funk outfits. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The band's favoured approach to composing involves retreating to the countryside and writing music to accompany the lyrics of vocalist India Blue – a way of working which shines through in their elegant, laid-back sound. This week Azamiah showcased at the Great Escape festival in Brighton, and on 3 June they release their Two Lands EP on fetching yellow vinyl via Floating World Records. The summer sees them booked for Kelburn Garden Party, Latitude Festival and Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival, and they have a UK tour scheduled for October. See Olaf Furniss and Derick Mackinnon run music industry seminar and social night Born To Be Wide visit
