Rare Burns family needlework samplers returned to Scotland

Two rare needlework samplers thought to have been embroidered by Robert Burns’s sister and mother have been returned to the poet’s birthplace. The two samplers, one attributed to the poet’s mother, Agnes Broun and the other to his youngest sister, Isabella Burns (later Isabella Begg), had been held in a private collection in the south…

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Lots to love and nothing to fear from Marina

With three headline tours under her belt, Marina returns to Glasgow for a fourth, this time without the Diamonds and after the release of the new album Love + Fear. The night began with a playlist curated by Marina in lieu of the usual support act. A bold choice that was perhaps not entirely ideal…

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New release will get the blood pumping

Renowned chef Jamie Oliver modestly quipped in his first cookery shows “It’s not me, it’s the food!” Whilst there is an element of truth in what the Naked Chef said, we know that that is only part of the story. So it is with this delightful album by Eilidh Shaw and Ross Martin recorded in…

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A fantastic return with Calum Stewart’s new album

Calum Stewart inspires with Tales from the North, a superb new solo album that challenges the conception that Uilleann pipes are the preserve of Irish music. Despite the initial Irish sound in the opening Am Monadh Ruadh (Gaelic for the Cairngorm mountain range) make no mistake that Calum’s music is very much music steeped in…

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Ross finds Sanctuary with his third album

Sanctuary is Ross Ainslie’s third solo album in which he continues his quest to rationalize the direction his life has taken from the time he chose music over sport to removing alcohol from his life. Music is his sanctuary, the place in which he is safe; ruler of a familiar territory that wraps its warm…

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The Giant Lanterns of China are stunning

Time is running out for those wanting to see the Giant Lanterns of China in Edinburgh. Over 450 gigantic lantern installations have been put in place, transforming Edinburgh Zoo into an impressive light spectacle. Is it running for 50 nights, having started on 1 December, and will finally close on 25 February. They have been…

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Review: La Clique Noel

I’ve been going to the Fringe for almost 30 years and few shows have stayed longer in my mind than La Clique. For me, it’s always been a show that makes me think about Camille O’Sullivan, the sultry Irish songstress whose playful and sensual vocals came to define La Clique for a whole generation of…

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