ARTS FESTIVAL OPENS TONIGHT
Written by author on May 20, 2016
THE 2016 Dumfries and Galloway Arts Festival is the biggest and most diverse to date and opens across Dumfries and Galloway tonight.
Highlights from the main programme include the notable SONGS OF SEPARATION. The performance in Dumfries is the culmination of a project that brought together ten female folk musicians from Scotland and England on the Isle of Eigg to create a programme inspired by 2014’s Scotland Referendum and reflecting on the issue of separation in all its forms.
The musicians are amongst the most well-respected folk singers in the UK. Their album was released in January to high critical acclaim and sold out during its first week. The musicians enjoyed a sell-out premiere at Celtic Connections, an hour-long slot on BBC Radio Scotland’s Travelling Folk as well as a sell-out mini tour of Scotland in January.
The concert in Dumfries includes eight of the original members – Karine Polwart, Rowan Rheingans, Mary Macmaster, Kate Young, Jenn Butterworth, Hazel Askew, Hannah James and Jenny Hill – who will be singing songs from the album alongside the Cairn Chorus from Moniaive.
Programme Director Peter Renwick said: “Songs of Separation turned out to be a remarkable project with a huge momentum behind it. The fact the musicians will be presenting their songs in collaboration with the Cairn Chorus make this a unique one-off concert for the region.”
This year’s festival is one of the biggest with nearly 90 performances over the ten days at nearly 50 venues. The festival will run until May 29 with events for everyone.
Also performing at the Festival is Mercury Award nominee, English singer and song collector SAM LEE. The Live band Sam Lee and Friends perform unconventional and contemporary interpretations challenging all preconceptions of how traditional folk should sound.”
Sam, who will be performing with “Friends” in Dumfries, is in the running for two awards at the BBC Folk Awards: Folk Singer of the Year and Best Traditional Track.
Peter added: “Sam Lee is another truly special performer. He has been getting rave reviews. We are thrilled that he will be part of this year’s festival.”
Other highlights this year include hilarious COMEDY with DANIEL SLOSS in Annan, ANNETTE BADLAND in Dumfries and Stranraer and CRAIG HILL in Langholm; WORLD MUSIC from the Rajasthan Heritage Brass Band, the monks of Tashi Lhunpo and the brassy Orkestra del Sol; classical music from the SCOTTISH ENSEMBLE with the wonderful ROBYN STAPLETON and the SCOTTISH CHAMBER ORCHESTRA; as well as some truly brilliant THEATRE.
With the addition of a vibrant festival fringe, which includes an historic town walk with Mostly Ghostly Tours; a mini literary festival and pop-up bookshop featuring local authors from WagTongues; plus an eclectic range of music, theatre, dance and literature events, the 2016 Dumfries & Galloway Arts Festival is getting bigger and better every year.
