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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Royal Conservatoire of Scotland hosts ‘Plug’ festival

THE “Plug” new music festival returns to the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (RCS) next month. More than 300 pieces of music have received their premieres at the festival during the past 17 years. This year’s festival runs on 8-12 May in Glasgow. Highlights at this year’s Plug festival include nine accordionists being accompanied by a…

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Bonnie & Wild ceilidh club gets own tartan

THE ceilidh club run by the Bonnie & Wild food hall at the St James Quarter shopping centre in Edinburgh now has its own tartan. Members of staff at Bonnie & Wild will be decked out in kilts made by ScotlandShop for dances at its White Heather Club. Ryan Barrie, managing director of Bonnie &…

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REVIEW: The Science Fiction Experience

Self-confessed geek and nerd Peter Ranscombe wants to hear more from The Science Fiction Experience. SOMETIMES when you hear an idea for a show, you know that the producer is on to a winner. The Science Fiction Experience is one of those shows. Created by Dundee-based science writer David Darling, the concept brings together classic…

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REVIEW: ‘Kidnapped’, National Theatre of Scotland

Megan Amato reviews the National Theatre of Scotland’s production of Kidnapped. THE key ingredients for many good stories start with a hapless character down on their luck before meeting the chaotic chancer who will lead them on an adventure far outside their comfort zone. Described as “a swashbuckling rom-com adventure”, Isobel McArthur and Michael John…

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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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St Mary’s Music School pupils visit new home

PUPILS from St Mary’s Music School have been given a sneaky peek at their new home. The pupils received a tour around the Old Royal High School building in Edinburgh, which is being converted into the new base for the specialist school, and which will also house a National Centre for Music. Their tour was…

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Outlander’s Sam Heughan picks winners

OUTLANDER star Sam Heughan has named the winners of his Write Start award. Heughan launched the competition last year to encourage students at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (RCS) to develop original work. This year’s winners are Hayley Louise McGuire and Jayme Bartlett, who are both in the third year of their bachelor of arts…

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Scots get ready for New York City Tartan Day Parade

SCOTTISH companies are getting ready to support the New York City Tartan Day Parade. It’s 25 years since the United States’ Senate declared 6 April to be “National Tartan Day”. Now, ScotlandShop and Bross Bagels are each supporting events in the Big Apple to mark the anniversary. This year, ScotlandShop – which is already the…

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Crown & Dagger Ball: A night for the history books

When Simone Waters attended the Crown & Dagger Ball, she was on a mission to see if fantasies could transcend into reality. AS I step out of my taxi and onto the uneven stones of Edinburgh’s Castlehill, the late evening has not only brought a moody darkness over this famous location but equally a sense…

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