News

Gustavo Dudamel and The Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela to play at The Big Concert

30 May 2012

There’s a reason it’s called The Big Concert. On 21 June, this midsummer night promises to be a musical spectacular when the incredible Gustavo Dudamel will take to the stage against the dramatic backdrop of Stirling Castle, joined by The Simón…

Top 5 presidents on film

In honour of Bill Murray's FDR in Hyde Park on Hudson, we look at the finest screen presidents

30 May 2012

After his near miss at a Best Actor Oscar for 2003's Lost in Translation (seized by Sean Penn in Mystic River), Bill Murray appears to be taking another swipe at the wee gold fella with this portrayal of Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Given America's love…

Olympic Torch Relay - Scottish route and dates

Information on Scottish leg of the Olympic Torch's journey around the UK

28 May 2012

Having toured through various towns and cities in England and Wales, the Olympic Torch relay is set to head to Scotland, starting in Glasgow on Fri 8 Jun. The city will celebrate the torch’s arrival with a multi-arts programme at Kelvingrove Art…

Win tickets to see your bands from the stage at RockNess 2012

28 May 2012

This year's RockNess Festival is offering one lucky person and a friend the chance to watch their favourite act from the side of the stage. The competition is open to anyone who has already purchased full weekend tickets, or day ticket holders who want…

Emeli Sande, Eliza Doolittle and General Fiasco to celebrate the Olympic Torch's passage through Scotland

28 May 2012

Scotland will burst into song as the Olympic Flame weaves its way across Scotland from 8–14 June, before reappearing on 21 June. Your community will be alive with the sound of song as a fusion of local favourites, new commissions, anthems, pop songs…

Lynne Ramsey reported to be working on new title with Natalie Portman

The two will pair up on western Jane Got a Gun

25 May 2012

Glasgow born director Lynne Ramsay's next project has just been announced: a Western that will star Natalie Portman. Jane Got A Gun will focus on a young woman whose outlaw of a husband is brutally attacked by his own gang. When the band of men head to…

CATS awards to be hosted by Alan Cumming

David Harrower, Maureen Beattie and Stuart Bowman in the running for prestigious theatre awards

23 May 2012

He’s one of the busiest actors at work today, preparing for curtain up on his one-man version Macbeth, but Alan Cumming is to take time out from rehearsals to host this year’s Critics’ Awards for Theatre in Scotland. The CATS, which this year celebrates…

Refugee Week 2012 highlights

Programme of awareness-raising events features King Creosote and Glasgow Girls: The Musical

22 May 2012

Scotland’s favourite Fence Records chap and former Mercury Award nominee King Creosote will kick off seven days of events to promote understanding of the experiences of refugees living in Scotland. The gig, which takes place at the Old Fruitmarket on…

The most infamous Fringe controversies

As the Edinburgh Fringe launches its 2012 programme we recall some of our favourite Fringe scandals

22 May 2012

Festival sinners As the Edinburgh Fringe launches its 2012 programme we recall some of our favourite Fringe controversies Kangaroo Theatre raised religious sensitivities in 2006 when the company staged the notoriously scandalous sex scenes of DH…

Ambitious outdoor arts festival Roofless

Artists Olivier Grossetete and Sumit Sarkar to create public art projects over the next year

22 May 2012

They say if you’re going to think, think big, and that’s exactly what Roofless, Scotland’s all-new outdoor arts festival is doing, with impressive scale and great purpose. Plotted initially in five locations, and bringing together professional artists…

Famous Spiegeltent to close off George Street

The venue will be linked to the recently-refurbished Assembly Rooms

18 May 2012

Part of George Street will be closed off to traffic during August to make way for The Famous Spiegeltent. The venue, which has been a fixture at the Fringe since 1985, will be erected as part of a pedestrianised terrace in front of the newly refurbished…

SAY Award shortlist announced

Bill Wells & Aidan Moffat, Mogwai and Rustie nominated for inaugural Scottish Album of the Year

17 May 2012

The Scottish Album of the Year (SAY) shortlist has been announced today. After some toothcomb sifting and careful deliberation, the judging panel have whittled down the nominations from a beefy 20 to a lean top 10. Through some hi-tech gadgetry, savvy…

Rita Ora, The Blackout and We Were Promised Jetpacks added to T in the Park 2012 lineup

14 May 2012

T in the Park today added more artists to their festival line-up, bringing an eclectic mix of head-banging rock, jaunty blues and even some South African pop with St. Lucia (Jean-Philip Grobler). T welcomes the club/RnB mash-up music of Rita Ora…

Vicky Featherstone to step down from National Theatre of Scotland

Artistic Director to take new post at London's Royal Court

11 May 2012

The National Theatre of Scotland announced today that Artistic Director Vicky Featherstone is leaving to join the Royal Court at the end of 2012. Featherstone joined to help establish the theatre company in 2004 and has presided over a string of hits.

Northern Lights: A film about Scotland made by you

Scots nationwide invited to contribute to country's first mass-input film project

9 May 2012

How would you like to see your work as part of a unique and exciting feature-length documentary film? Got a camera and something you’re eager to share? Then you’re all set to get involved and be in with a chance of winning one of many awards from the…

Giants in the Forest: The natural art project putting sculpture into Scotland's woods

Massive project undertaken as part of the Year of Creative Scotland

9 May 2012

In a country where much of our creativity is inspired by the incredible natural environment around us, what better year to launch our unique project, Giants in the Forest? Looking down on us from tree tops will be massive wicker heads, seeded and…

Video: animated street art at Newhaven

Edinburgh artist Spaceboy animates a 150 metre-long mural along fishmarket shutters

4 May 2012

Edinburgh artist Mike Inglis, aka Spaceboy, has collaborated with Red Stripe on transforming the shutters of Newhaven fishmarket into a Jamaica-inspired animation. The first cut of the video can be seen below. Spaceboy pasted his illustrations…

Edinburgh’s Assembly Rooms to reopen in time for Fringe 2012

18-month refit and staff changes at George Street venue

25 Apr 2012

Say what you like about modern-day dress sense, but when Edinburgh’s Assembly Rooms returns to life, today’s fashionistas will have some stiff competition. Yes, they’ll be excited about the opening ceilidh in July and the high-profile Fringe line-up…

Spring book festivals round-up

Colonsay, Boswell and Booked! all offer individual takes on literary festivities

24 Apr 2012

Often it can be a tricky task choosing which Book Festival on the calendar to attend, especially when there’s a diary clash. Whether by accident or design, it’s possible to pop into all three of the major literary extravaganzas over the coming month.

Mull Historical Society and Blood Red Shoes added to T in the Park line up

Hilltop Hoods, The Parlotones and Dog is Dead also to appear

24 Apr 2012

T in the Park 2012 organisers have announced more acts to join the already impressive line up for this year's festival. Alongside headliners Snow Patrol, Kasabian and The Stone Roses, recently added artists include Hilltop Hoods, Blood Red Shoes, Mull…

New Brave trailer showcases Emma Thompson and Billy Connolly's roles

24 Apr 2012

A new trailer for Disney-Pixar's Brave is available, revealing a little more of the Highland-set story line. In it, we see a lot more of the dynamic between impetuous heroine Merida (Kelly Macdonald), her indulgent father King Fergus (Billy Connolly…

Museums-and-literature project 26 Treasures to form basis of new book

The collection of 'sestudes' will be published by Unbound

23 Apr 2012

When 26 Treasures came to the National Museum of Scotland between December 2011 and January 2012 it was well received by writers and visitors alike. 26 writers were assigned 26 objects from the museum's vast collection of historical artefacts and asked…

Comedy acts announced for Rockness 2012

Headliner Tim Minchin will be joined by Des Clarke, Daniel Sloss and Jamie Dalglish

23 Apr 2012

The organisers behind RockNess have released the names of those confirmed for the 2012 festival's comedy line-up. Australian superstar Tim Minchin will be joined by Scotland's own comic prodigy Daniel Sloss and award-winning comic and presenter Des…

William Friedkin's Killer Joe to open EIFF

The Exorcist director's comic thriller to kick-off 66th Edinburgh International Film Festival

18 Apr 2012

Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF) organizers have announced today that comic noir thriller Killer Joe will be the Opening Gala on Wed 20 Jun 2012 in Edinburgh’s Festival Theatre. The film is directed by William Friedkin, best known for his…

Nik Kershaw to play entire 'Human Racing' album in 2012 tour

His UK tour will also feature material from an upcoming new album

17 Apr 2012

Nik Kershaw is set to tour the UK with his band, beginning in September 2012. The Bristol-born singer/song-writer will be playing nine dates to celebrate this year's re-release of his iconic 1984 debut album Human Racing, which he will be performing…