Scotland Today
Edinburgh
Jig in the Gardens
West Princes Street Gardens
Friday 30 November
1pm-late
A free celebration of Scotland's National Day
1-6pm – Two purpose-built marquees will host a programme of dance, music and family fun to celebrate St Andrew's Day. In the Scottish Pavilion, Dance Base will run workshops of Bollywood, salsa, belly dancing, jive – not to mention ceilidh. In the Chiller Tent, the Scottish Storytelling Centre will be in situ, along side face painters, colouring books and giant garden games. Don't miss the opportunity to meet the Royal Highland Show's Highland Cow!
6pm-late – Jig in the gardens – Join in the giant ceilidh and enjoy some of Scotland's most talented bands in the Scottish Pavilion. Revel in the exciting sounds of world fusion masters Salsa Celtica. Party to the vibrant contemporary sounds of the Porridge Men. Jig to the traditional rhythms of the Portobello Ceilidh Band and the Jimmy Shandrix Experience. Featuring DJ Zak Zagarelos and DJ Jo Malik. If ceilidh-ing's not your thing, you can get into the groove at the Chiller Tent with the Colin Steele Quartet featuring Cathie Rae, the Andy May Trio and DJs Barney Strachan and Aki.
Saturday and Sunday 1 and 2 December
Activities will continue throughout the weekend – dance workshops, music, face painting and storytelling. And if all the activities tire you out, light refreshments are available for you to buy.
3.30pm Sunday 2 December
Help create the largest Dashing White Sergeant – accompanied by The Porridge Men.
Slaves Lament
Greyfriars Kirk, Edinburgh
Saturday 1 December
7.30pm
Songs by Robert Burns to mark the bicentenary of the abolition of slavery for St Andrew's Night
Devised by Ian McFarlane
This concert forms the first Robert Burns recital relating to the abolition of slavery for the 2007 bicentenary. Slaves Lament combines Gillian Keith soprano and Paul Agnew tenor and leading musicians including French fortepianist, Jérôme Hantaï, in his first Edinburgh and Scottish appearance. It continues the pioneering work of McFarlane Productions in work by Robert Burns – including McFarlane's Burns' opera Ae fond kiss . . . – the first Scottish opera to premiere at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden and the first opera about Robert Burns which then premiered at Wigmore Hall London, for Burns' Night 2002 – Year of Burns.
Gillian Keith soprano, Paul Agnew tenor, with Monica Huggett violin, Joseph Crouch cello, Jérôme Hantaï piano
Tickets: £15 and £12 concession
Glasgow
Shindig in the Square
George Square – 4.00pm-10.00pm
There's no better place to celebrate St Andrew's Day than George Square! Whether you're a fan of the Dashing White Sergeant or Strip the Willow, join in the fun and swing your sporran at our Shindig in the Square! George Square will be transformed into a sea of Saltires as Glasgow celebrates the patron saint of Scotland with a customary ceilidh featuring performances by some of the country's best live ceilidh bands.
St Andrew's in the Square
St Andrew's Square – 28 November-2 December
Glasgow's Centre for Scottish Culture throws its doors open to celebrate St Andrew's Day with a five day St Andrew's Festival. Skirl to Scottish dance at the St Andrew's Night Ceilidh, enjoy dazzling live performances from piping through to Gaelic singing and nourish your soul as The Glasgow Lyric Choir perform Handel's Messiah.
For more information visit www.standrewsinthesquare.com.
Glasgow Winter Fest
Nov-Jan 2007
Glasgow gets set to sparkle this season with Winterfest – a dazzling array of events and activities to warm up your winter! The View will headline Glasgow's Hogmanay celebrations. The modern rock sensation will wow the crowd as the city brings in the New Year. George Square will be the focus of the festive celebrations as it is transformed and welcomes visitors into a winter wonderland.
For more information visit www.winterfestglasgow.com
Aberdeen
St Andrew's Weekend Ceilidh
Friday 30th November, 8pm-Midnight
Admission: £5
St Andrew's Night Ceilidh with a top local Ceilidh Band in the unique location of a Scottish themed marquee in Union Terrace Gardens. Join in the fun and learn some new steps at this unique event. Tickets from the Box Office.
Aberdeen Winter Festival: St Andrew's Weekend Tea Dance
Saturday 1st December, 1.30pm-4pm
Admission: £2
A winter tea dance in the unique location of Union Terrace Gardens with music by the Garioch Blend. Tickets from Mary Anderson. Tel
Aberdeen Winter Festival: St Andrew's Weekend Doric Cabaret Evening
Saturday 1st December, 8pm-10pm approx
Admission: £3
Come along and hear from a variety of local entertainers including musicians, dancers and story tellers. The evening will be a feast of Scottish entertainment with a Doric twist. Tickets from the Box Office.
Aberdeen Winter Festival: Christmas Tree Switch On
Sunday 2nd December, 4pm-5.30pm
Admission: Free
The City of Aberdeen Christmas Tree gifted by the people of our twin city of Stavanger will be switched on by the City's Lord Provost. The tree will be located in Union Terrace Gardens and entertainment prior to the switch on is provided by local churches and the Norwegian community.
Stirling
Port Street, Stirling City Centre
30 Nov 6pm-7pm
The evening will kick off with an open-air performance from the Stirling & District Schools Pipe Band from 6-7pm.
The Albert Halls, Dumbarton Road
30 Nov 7.30pm
Family ceilidh at 7.30pm hosted by the Brian McAlpine International Ceilidh Collective.
Tolbooth, Jail Wynd
30 Nov 8.00pm
A celebratory concert featuring national treasure and one of Scotland's really great singers, Alison McMorland with Geordie McIntyre and two of Jock Tamson's Bairns, Norman Chalmers and Derek Hoy. The evening will be rounded off by the legendary Irish singer, Andy Irvine.
Big o' Turk Village Hall
30 Nov 7.30pm
Family ceilidh led by the hugely popular Ceilidh Minogue Band featuring Angus Lyon.
Killearn Village Hall
1 Dec 7.30pm
Family ceilidh led by the hugely popular Ceilidh Minogue Band featuring Angus Lyon.
Inverness
Eastgate Centre
Malt and Music
There'll be a day packed with Highland music and dance for all ages in Inverness as the Eastgate Centre launches a bid to break the world record for the longest Strip the Willow. People from all over the Highlands will be drafted in to take part in what promises to be a highly energetic event between 10am and 5pm on Friday 30 November. Pipers will welcome shoppers as they enter the centre where malts will be on offer to warm up the adults.
www.eastgate-centre.co.uk
Culloden Battlefield
What more appropriate place to commemorate St. Andrew's Day than Culloden Battlefield. An iconic site that stirs the emotions, Culloden Battlefield will host a day of activities including Gaelic music and pipes, raising the Saltire, a guided tour of the battlefield, living history displays throughout the day, presentations on the Battle of Culloden and the new Culloden visitor centre and exhibition opening later this year, and many more activities.
Come and join in the celebrations from 11am-3pm on Friday 30 November. For more information please visit the events section at www.culloden.org.uk or call the Culloden Battlefield visitor centre direct on
www.culloden.org.uk
Nevis Centre
Hands Up for Trad will host a St. Andrew's Night Spectacular Ceilidh Dance in Fort William as part of the Scots Trad Music Awards programme. The multi-band, multi-cultural ceilidh dance will be a top quality night promoting Scotland's traditional music around St. Andrew's Day, making it visible and easily accessible to everyone. There will be four Scottish traditional bands including The Occasionals and the Marian Anderson Scottish Dance Band along with an Indian Bhangra band. Join the fun dancing the night away at the Nevis Centre, Fort William on Friday 30 November from 7.30pm. Tickets will be £8 (£6 concession).
www.handsupfortrad.co.uk
www.highland2007.com
