Runrig marks 50th birthday with Inverness Castle news

ROCK band Runrig is marking its 50th anniversary today with news that it will feature in the first exhibition at Inverness Castle. The former court is being turned into a tourist attraction, which is due to open in 2025. The opening exhibition in the castle’s North Tower will feature “the music and stories of Runrig,…

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Picts DNA sheds light on Scotland’s history

A GENETIC study of the Picts has shed fresh light on one of Scotland’s most mysterious peoples. Researchers from the University of Aberdeen and Liverpool John Moores University studied genes from Pictish-era cemeteries at Lundin Links in Fife and Balintore in Easter Ross. Dr Linus Girdland Flink, a lecturer at the University of Aberdeen, said:…

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Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo unveils ‘stories’ theme

THE theme for this year’s Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo will be “stories”. This summer’s show will feature more than 800 performers, including guest stars from Australia, Norway, Switzerland, Trinidad and Tobago, and the United States. The show will be staged at Edinburgh Castle on 4-26 August and will include the tattoo debut of The United…

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An Lot returns for lambing season

CROFTING series An Lot returns to BBC Alba next week for a two-part special that includes lambing. The programme, which is filmed at Ness on Lewis, stars Sweeny and David. The latest two episodes, which will be broadcast on 1 and 8 May, cover winter and the lambing season. Since the last series was shown,…

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Aberdeen hits high note for European Pipe Band Championships

FURTHER details were revealed today ahead of this summer’s European Pipe Band Championships in Aberdeen. More than 100 pipe bands from across Europe and from as far away as Australia will travel to the North-East to participate in one of the largest piping events in the world. It’s the first time since 1981 that the…

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Scottish Chamber Orchestra marks 50th birthday

THE Scottish Chamber Orchestra (SCO) will unveil details of its 2023-24 season today as it prepares to celebrate its 50th anniversary. Guests joining the orchestra during the year ahead include Thomas Adès, Nicola Benedetti, Colin Currie, Karen Cargill, Richard Egarr, Andrew Manze, and Roderick Williams. New music due to be performed during the season includes…

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BBC Alba marks Hebrides migration centenary

A SERIES of dramatic monologues recorded by BBC Alba to mark the centenary of major migrations from the Outer Hebrides comes to an end tomorrow. The eight-part series, entitled Marloch is Metagama: Guthan (Marloch and Metagama: Voices), will be available on the BBC iPlayer for 30 days. Nearly 600 islanders left the Outer Hebrides in…

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Billy Connolly turned into National Theatre of Scotland show

THE National Theatre of Scotland has written a show about comedian Billy Connolly. The show was written by Gary McNair, who gathered stories about Connolly from people throughout Scotland. The performance, entitled Dear Billy, is billed as “A love letter to the Big Yin from the people of Scotland” and will tour our nation from 16…

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Stanley Tucci praises St Andrews film festival

ACTOR Stanley Tucci presented his directorial debut at the Sands international film festival in St Andrews. The American star showed Big Night, which he directed in 1996. “I’m excited that people still like the film, and it holds up – because films, sometimes, they don’t,” he said. “I’m excited to hear what their reactions are…

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Why don’t more women play the bagpipes?

THE National Piping Centre today launched a study to find out why more women don’t play the bagpipes. Its six-month “Women in Piping and Drumming: Equality, Inclusivity, and Diversity” project is being run in collaboration with the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. The study includes an online survey, which runs until 2 June. Lady Oona Ivory,…

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