Festivals
Festival fever
If you're going to discuss Scottish festivals, indeed festivals anywhere in the world, there is only really one place to start. . . .
"I thank God for the Edinburgh Festival. It gives Edinburgh a sense of its true destiny as a city worthy of comparison with all those Italian cities that first gave meaning to the word 'civilized'."
Richard Demarco, founder of Traverse Theatre
The Edinburgh Festival is truly the greatest of them all, the festival in whose shadow all others fall. It has changed beyond recognition since it began in 1947. In addition to the Festival itself there is now the equally famous Fringe, as well as additional events covering everything from literature to science: hundreds of shows, thousands of performers and hundreds of thousands of visitors taking in everything from ballet to opera, theatre to symphonies, and stand-up comedy to acrobats.
In the picture
The Edinburgh International Film Festival started life at the same time as the main Festival and is now the longest continually running film festival in the world. For over 50 years the EIFF has been at the epicentre of the most exciting and innovative cinema of modern times.
Back in the 1960's the EIFF was one of the first film events to embrace the idea of the retrospective, showcasing work from revered directors like John Huston, Sam Fuller and Douglas Sirk. Throughout the 70's and 80's it nurtured new talents from both sides of the Atlantic – embracing directors like Bill Forsyth and Steven Soderbergh. In more recent years screenings and premiers have included films like Mrs. Brown, The Full Monty and East is East.
Author, author!
The Edinburgh Book Festival, held in Charlotte Square Gardens, amid the Georgian splendour of the city's New Town, is now firmly established as one of the world's most famous literary festivals. In its first year, 1983, there were 30 'meet the author' events. Last year there were 650! The EBF is a book-lover's idea of paradise: when John Mortimer was asked what his idea of heaven was he replied 'going to the Edinburgh Book Festival'!
From bagpipes to electric guitars
At the other end of the festival spectrum is T in The Park. Scotland's premier rock festival started life in the mid nineties and is now well into its second decade, having grown into one of the most important music festivals in the world in the process. Every year at T – as it is affectionately known – it is not only the biggest names in contemporary rock music, but also some of the best up and coming talent who play for tens of thousands of the most passionate music fans in the world.
The recent upsurge of interest in traditional Scottish music has been greatly helped by the hugely successful CELTIC CONNECTIONS festival, which is held every January in Glasgow, showcasing the world's finest traditional singers and musicians. Or, further afield, there's the HEBRIDEAN CELTIC FESTIVAL which has been held every July since 1995 in the scenic grounds of Lewis Castle on Stornoway.
The Royal National Mod is Scotland's premier Gaelic music event and was first held in Oban in 1892. Held every October at a different location each year, The Mod is a competition-based festival which celebrates the Gaelic language through music, dance, drama and literature. A number of smaller, provincial Mods now take place throughout Scotland between May and Sept and there are Mods held as far away as Canada and the USA.
Horses, whisky and fireballs!
If eating and drinking are more your thing then visit one of Scotland's growing number of food and drink festivals, like the ISLAY WHISKY FESTIVAL, where, every summer, the eight distilleries on this tiny island open their doors to malt lovers from all over the world.
Or, for those of a more equestrian disposition, there's the COMMON RIDINGS in the Borders. Centered on the towns of Hawick, Selkirk and Lauder the roots of the festival date back to the more lawless days of the Borders, when territory was fiercely fought over and the men of the towns would ride out, checking the boundaries for raiders. The annual ride-out still takes place every June.
Thanks to ancient connections with the Vikings, Scotland has a number of spectacular FIRE FESTIVALS. 'UP HELLY AA' is held on the last Tuesday of every January in Shetland and is the largest festival of its kind in the world. Up to a thousand people take part in a torch-lit procession through Lerwick before a full size replica of a Viking longship is ceremonially burned.
Over on the east coast STONEHAVEN plays host to its annual FIREBALL CEREMONY every New Year's Eve when, on the stroke of midnight, the crowded streets are lit up by the fireball swingers. Accompanied by pipes and drums, they make their way down to the harbour, swinging their blazing fireballs dramatically around their heads before finally launching them into the sea.
April 2007
Follow the Yellow Brick Road Susie Maguire tells us the tale of her journey to the 'Writing the City: Edinburgh in Poetry, Prose and Song' event at the Melbourne Arts Festival.
January 2007
Highland 2007 Highland 2007 is a year-long celebration of Highland culture. We learn about the many festivals and events planned throughout Scotland.
August 2006
Edinburgh: Iconic Capital Auld Reekie, Athens of the North and Festival City – Edinburgh is a truly international icon of the celebration of the creative spirit.