Posts by Kenny Smith
Longlist revealed for Bloody Scotland prize
Five years ago the Scottish Crime Book of the Year Award was renamed the McIlvanney Prize in memory of William McIlvanney. This year his final book, The Dark Remains, which was completed with the help of Ian Rankin, will be published on 2 September coinciding with the announcement of the McIlvanney Prize shortlist. The longlist…
Read MoreYoung Scots cellist wins top music prize
A seventeen-year-old cellist from Edinburgh has won the highly prestigious Directors’ Recital Prize 2021 presented annually by Scotland’s national music school. Layla Ballard, in her last year at St Mary’s Music School, was declared the winner of the 21st annual competition following a closely contested final with three other senior soloists. The other finalists were…
Read MoreRoyal Highland Showcase was a real success
The Royal Highland Showcase drew to a close with organisers heralding the innovative hybrid event a resounding success. Judging of more than 3000 cattle, goats, sheep and horses took place at the competitor-only event at the Royal Highland Centre, concluding seven days of livestreamed livestock judging, forestry, equestrian, sheep shearing, industry talks and Scottish produce…
Read MoreThe Macallan unveils its third bold concept release
The Macallan has unveiled Concept No. 3, a collaboration with visionary graphic designer David Carson that brings together the worlds of whisky and the visual arts. Concept No. 3 is the latest release in The Macallan Concept Series, a limited collection of annual release whiskies which fuse the artistry and expertise behind The Macallan’s whisky-making…
Read MoreDigital buzz in a week-long arts programme
Dundee Rep and Scottish Dance Theatre are presenting the Digital Buzz Festival, a week-long programme celebrating the creative output of the various performing arts groups which are part of the organisation’s engagement programme. Unable to meet in person over the past 14 months, the groups reverted to Zoom gatherings but of course that didn’t stop…
Read MoreFormer teacher turning barrels into whisky bars
A former teacher has had a change of career as he now creates whisky bars for the stars, including Outlander’s Sam Heughan. Freddie Main, a former design and technology teacher for more than 20 years switched paths during lockdown to launch Oak & Black, which specialises in making bespoke mini bars from old whisky barrels…
Read MoreBoswell Book Festival is an international hit
People from across the world tuned in to the Boswell Book Festival’s virtual events last week with viewers from the UK, America, Italy, Canada, Australia, China and Norway amongst other countries. The Schools and Families programme saw over 40 schools signing up. The festival delivered a star-studded cast including broadcaster Andrew Marr, Andrew Cotter with…
Read MoreScottish bakery chases Great British Food Award
A Scottish firm has been named as a finalist for the best bakery in the prestigious Great British Food Awards – the only Scottish bakery to be included in the category. The Great British Food Awards were launched in 2014 to celebrate the UK’s finest food and drink, as well as the hard-working people behind…
Read MoreA look at Scotland’s oldest mountain refuge
As most Scots will know, Corrour Bothy is a staple in the Cairngorms landscape. Known as the oldest and most famous bothy in Scotland, Storer explores the history of this mountain refuge. This is a surprisingly fascinating and humorous book considering it is centered around such a small bolthole. This is mainly due to the…
Read MoreA celebration of the boutique Fife Arms Hotel
Located in the quaint village of Braemar, The Fife Arms is a boutique hotel like no other. This book provides a visual tour of the historic hotel after its stunning renovation beginning in 2015, detailing the craftmanship and hard work that went into its rejuvenation. The interior has been meticulously considered – each room tells…
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