News, Issue 697

Top 5 presidents on film

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

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

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

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…

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

The two will pair up on western Jane Got a Gun

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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…