EDINBURGH’S CHRISTMAS ST ANDREW’S DAY

Edinburgh’s Christmas flies the flag for St Andrew’s Day

St Andrew’s Day was marked in a very special way as part of Edinburgh’s Christmas and Scotland’s Winter Festivals when around six thousand people turned out to see a spectacular Carnival at the Castle.

In the second of two bespoke shows created especially for Edinburgh by performing arts company, Emergency Exit Arts, Edinburgh Castle became the capital’s focus as part of nationwide celebrations this weekend.

The performance started with children marching in procession with their lanterns to the sound of  pipes and drums.  The show itself was woven around the myths and stories of how St. Andrew became Patron Saint of Scotland and how the Saltire became the national flag, along with a celebration of Scotland’s great thinkers, inventors, artists and sporting heroes.  A high energy, imaginative mix of dance, music, projections, illumination and fireworks, transformed one of Scotland’s most iconic buildings, Edinburgh Castle, into an even more magical place.

Cabinet Secretary for Culture & External Affairs Fiona Hyslop said: “Scotland truly sparkles in the winter – and this year is no exception. Scotland’s Winter Festivals kicks off in spectacular style with St Andrew’s Day, and the event at Edinburgh Castle is a highlight of this year’s programme.

Rounding off the weekend of celebrations, the traditional Nativity Carol Concert will take place in St. Andrew Square Garden on Sunday 2 December, from 4pm.  All are welcome to come along and mark the first Sunday of Advent by singing carols around Tim Chalk’s much-loved Nativity Scene, kindly commissioned and donated to the city by Sir Tom and Lady Farmer. The concert will be conducted by Cardinal Keith Patrick O’Brien and ‘Edinburgh Churches Together’, with singing led by Exile Gospel Choir, accompanied by St Peter’s Primary School Choir.

Edinburgh’s Christmas is a highlight of the Winter in Edinburgh marketing campaign and is supported by City of Edinburgh Council, Essential Edinburgh, Marketing Edinburgh and Edinburgh Evening News, with the programme produced by She’s Gott It!.

Full details of all events, along with timings and prices, can be found at: www.edinburghschristmas.com

FIVE METRE HIGH SANTA OPENS EDINBURGH’S CHRISTMAS

Edinburgh’s Christmas got off to a spectacular start last night, as the city marked the beginning of the annual countdown to Christmas. This year, the first of two shows created especially for Edinburgh by performing arts company, Emergency Exit Arts, opened the Christmas celebrations. The second show will be on Andrew’s Day evening Friday 30 November, on the Castle Esplanade.

The giant Santa Claus led an assortment of characters up The Mound, ready for a magical journey through the Christmas Dream Machine – a bespoke show which revealed the dreams of a child at Christmas. The performance included illuminations, aerial performances and pyrotechnics, culminating in the lighting of Edinburgh’s Christmas Tree – a gift from the people of Hordaland in Norway.

After all the excitement on The Mound, a Christmas Brazilian Samba Band played and danced its way along Princes Street to St Andrew Square Garden where an after show entertained late night shoppers and revellers. The show featured the finalists of Edinburgh’s Got Talent, the speed painting talents of Jon Hicks, comedy from Bread and Butter, new girl group Gurlesque, the cast from Dirty Dancing, dramatic performances from the pipes and drums of Clanadonia, and a fire spectacular from Flame Oz.

Lord Provost, Rt Hon Donald Wilson, welcomed the start of the festivities, saying: “The Light Night ceremony shows Edinburgh at its best and this spectacular evening is always a fantastic way to mark the start of six weeks of Christmas celebrations. This is a very special time of year for Edinburgh and its residents and we are immensely proud that so many people choose to share their Christmas with us and enjoy everything our wonderful city has to offer.”

Light Night marks the start of the city’s exciting six week festive programme, with events taking place across the weekend, to get locals and visitors alike into the festive spirit.

On Friday 30 November, Edinburgh Castle will become the focus of celebrations to mark St. Andrew’s Day. Produced in association with Scotland’s Winter Festivals, lantern making workshops will take place at the Castle during the day, with a specially created show – Carnival at the Castle – at 7pm on the Esplanade. The performance will start with children marching in procession with their lanterns from Parliament Square, while the air is filled with the sound of pipes and drums.

The show will be woven around the myths and stories of how St. Andrew became Patron Saint of Scotland and how the Saltire became the national flag, along with a celebration of Scotland’s great thinkers, inventors, artists and sporting heroes. The story will be told through a high energy, imaginative mix of dance, music, projections, illumination and fireworks, transforming one of Scotland’s most iconic buildings, Edinburgh Castle, into an even more magical place.

This spectacular event will be one of the highlights of the Scotland’s Winter Festivals programme of events, which will include Hogmanay on 31 December and culminate with Burns Night on the 25 January 2013.

Rounding off the weekend of celebrations, the traditional Nativity Carol Concert will take place in St. Andrew Square Garden on Sunday 2 December, from 4pm. All are welcome to come along and mark the first Sunday of Advent by singing carols around Tim Chalk’s much-loved Nativity Scene, kindly commissioned and donated to the city by Sir Tom and Lady Farmer. The concert will be conducted by Cardinal Keith Patrick O’Brien and ‘Edinburgh Churches Together’, with singing led by Exile Gospel Choir, accompanied by St Peter’s Primary School Choir.

Andy Neal, chief executive of Essential Edinburgh, said: “The experience of being in Edinburgh is always special, but at this time of year, the atmosphere in the city is unique and inspirational. Visitors and locals alike can get their Christmas off to a magical start by coming into town to eat, drink and shop, with the brilliant array of Christmas events giving people even more reason to visit.”

Nickie Gott, managing director of She’s Gott It!, Edinburgh’s Christmas producers, commented: “Light Night this year has been really special, with a show full of wonder and excitement. Throughout the Christmas season this year we are bringing plenty of the old favourites, but also lots of new and exciting things, with something that will pretty much suit everyone.”

Edinburgh’s Christmas is a highlight of the Winter in Edinburgh marketing campaign and is supported by City of Edinburgh Council, Essential Edinburgh, Marketing Edinburgh and Edinburgh Evening News, with the programme produced by She’s Gott It!. Full details of all events, along with timings and prices, can be found at www.edinburghschristmas.com

Hands up For Kendal Calling

KENDAL CALLING 2012 NOMINATED FOR ‘BEST MEDIUM SIZED FESTIVAL’ & ‘BEST HEADLINE PERFORMANCE’ AT UK FESTIVAL AWARDS!

VOTING NOW OPEN & CLOSES ON 31^ST OCTOBER

SHORTLIST WILL BE ANNOUNCED 5^TH NOVEMBER

TO VOTE GO TO: http://www.festivalawards.com/

FESTIVAL WEBSITE: www.kendalcalling.com

Kendal Calling; Winner of ‘Best Small Festival’ - Live UK Award 2011 & UK Festival Awards 2010 

The Lake District’s irrepressible festival, Kendal Calling is up for ‘Best Medium Sized Festival’ and ‘Best Headline Performance’ from Dizzee Rascal in the annual UK Festival Awards

Organisers of the festival are delighted to be nominated, having scooped ‘Best Small Festival’ at the Live UK Awards last year. Dizzee Rascal delivered THE most energised set to date at Kendal Calling, hot off the back of performing at the Olympic Opening Ceremony the night before. Millions around the globe tuned in to see him open the Games, and the showman brought his tour de force energy to Kendal. Having played the festival before in 2008, Dizzee Rascal took to the amphitheatre style main stage this time for a pyrotechnic explosion of big beats, sharp lyrics and a Bonkers atmosphere that the crowd have been calling out to see footage of ever since! Now it can be relived here, video now up online for ‘Bonkers’; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzRP2f3Kdmw

Amidst streamers raining down from the sky, a torrent of fireworks and the vibrations of bass underfoot in the stunning rolling hills of Lowther Deer Park, Dizzee Rascals performance was unparrelled, fusing the buzz of the Olympics with a dynamic live show that raised the proverbial roof.

Voting for the UK Festival Awards is now open and closes on 31^st October; voters can enter a draw to win tickets to every winning UK festival in 2013! Details here: http://www.festivalawards.com/2012/10/01/vote-now-win-tickets-to-every-winning-festival/

Other highlights this year included an epic headline performance from one of the biggest Manchester bands in rock history, James, who dropped hits like ‘Sit Down’ and ‘Laid’ as the bands family danced at the side of stage and singer Tim Booth crowd surfed and hugged the audience. A festival-first came from new onsite venue Tim Peak’s Diner, that served up an exclusive breakfast cereal called Totes Amazeballs and damn fine coffee while hosting intimate, surprise sets from Edwyn Collins, Nick Heywood (Aztec Camera), The View and many more musicians, DJs and writers who dropped by.

With hundreds of artists performing across 16 areas, every nook of the site was alive with performance.  Other highlights included a unique collaboration from DJ Yoda and the Transiberian March Band on the main stage and folk singer Lucy Rose taking to the Chai Wallahs stage, hot off the plane from LA and welcomed into the lush surrounds of the Eastern tea tent in the Cumbrian hills – it really was a global affair!

BBC 6Music Funk & Soul star Craig Charles closed the festival, in traditional style, with an extended DJ set that saw a packed out audience and the DJs whole family dancing next to him onstage until the wee small hours.

The Riot Jazz stage saw a surprise set from Noon, and drum and bass supremo Andy C played an extended set in the Glow Dance Arena.

Kendal Calling has come a long way since its inception in 2006 when it was a small gathering of 900 people and a two-day event in a park in Kendal. Now festival organisers run ground-breaking events across the UK that have earned them multiple awards as promoters.

Directors of the festival Andy Smith and Ben Robinson have remained true to their ethos of bringing national and internationally recognised artists to Kendal Calling as well as providing a platform for regional talent. The festival prides itself on hosting the most fun and frolics you can have in the fields.

The core team behind Kendal Calling has gone from strength to strength with their projects, whilst the festival has sold out each year.

Watch this space for line up announcements and ticket offers for Kendal Calling 2013 to be announced soon.

BELLA’S TENTH BIRTHDAY PARTY TICKETS ARE ON SALE!

Follow Bella on  Facebook and  Twitter to get our latest news updates.

BELLA’S TENTH BIRTHDAY PARTY TICKETS ARE ON SALE! Tickets to Bella 2013 – the tenth staging of the festival (2nd and 3rd August) - go on sale at 0900 on Thursday 27th September 2012. Prices have been pegged at 2012 levels, e-ticket booking fees have been reduced and a payment by instalments scheme is being offered. Tickets are only available as e-tickets from skiddle.com for now but printed tickets from the usual agents will be available nearer Christmas. The booking fee on a full weekend e-ticket has been reduced from £7.55 to £6, with other ticket booking fees following suit. The following tickets are available now: Weekend ticket £95* child weekend (12 & under) ticket free campervan/caravan £50* campervan/ caravan with electrical hook-up £130*. Go to www.tartanheartfestival.co.uk to buy tickets and to see terms and conditions of sale. Disabled tickets are issued by a new process for 2013 and are available from 1st November (see below) * Excluding booking fees and postage where applicable. NEW BELLA VIDEO The amazing Tom Welsh of GetDeluxe, Edinburgh, has produced this year’s new video and the link to it is right here. See it. Share it. And shout about it. It’s your party. TICKET DEPOSIT SCHEME – NEW FOR 2013 This year, you can buy your full weekend e-tickets at skiddle.com (not campervan/caravan tickets) in instalments up until 1st June. Here’s how it works: When purchasing a ticket, select the Weekend Deposit Ticket You pay 50% of the total cost of your Adult Weekend Ticket/s plus the total booking fee (£6.25 booking fee per ticket) immediately – Skiddle’s system calculates this for you The final two instalments (half each of the balance) are due by 1700 on 1st June 2013 with no extra booking fees, either online via skiddle.com or by calling 0843 289 3333 . If the total balance is not received by Skiddle by the deadline, you forfeit all the payments you have made and the tickets will be placed back on sale. If you give Skiddle your email and mobile, they will email and text you a week before the deadline if you have a balance out-standing You will receive a receipt for your deposit and balancing payment but you will only receive the full ticket/s once the whole value of the ticket/s has been paid The deposit and balance owed can only be paid by credit/debit card; you do not have to use the same credit/debit card for all transactions You cannot pay the balance at the gate - if you arrive at the gate with only a receipt for a part paid ticket/s, you will not be allowed entry Tickets cannot be added to an order at a later stage - a new order must be made The deposit and associated fees are non-refundable and no claim can be made to recover this money whatsoever These terms and conditions for the TDS are in addition to the standard Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival and Skiddle.com terms and conditions which you agree to at the time of purchase Any enquiries regarding the deposit ticket scheme please emailsupport@skiddle.com DISABLED TICKETS 2013 Disabled tickets will be available from 1st November 2012. In order to control the number of non-disabled persons in the disabled camping and parking area, there are some changes to the methods of buying disabled tickets this year: Tickets for disabled persons, carers and those wishing to park or camp with them can only be bought as e-tickets via Mary Ferguson (see below). All persons using the disabled camping area in a disabled person’s party MUST have a specific ticket for that area which can only be acquired via Mary Ferguson; they should not exceed four in number including the disabled person. Applications to increase this, for instance to allow an extra family member in, will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis. Only one parking pass for the disabled area per disabled person will be issued; this will only be issued to the disabled person and must be produced to allow entry for a vehicle Tickets to the disabled camping and parking area will be exchanged for wristbands at the event. To buy tickets allowing access to the disabled parking and camping area, as a disabled person, carer, or member of a please make contact with Mary Ferguson at maryferguson72@btinternet.com HOW WAS IT FOR YOU? We’re really thrilled to hear from so many people that Bella 2012 was the best ever for them. In the meantime, if you haven’t done so already, could you complete our post-event survey to help us to continue to improve the event. If you have time and like giving your opinions, please also complete this survey organised by the Association of Independent Festivals who are offering prizes to people who take part FANCY DRESS 2012 Next year’s theme to celebrate Bella’s tenth birthday is ‘Carnival’ – so go get your tickets because the conga starts right here! Congratulations to  everyone who came in fancy dress to Bella 2012 and brought so much to the party and in particular to this year’s fancy dress winners: Mikey Bond Alasdair Stewart Heather Hodge Athol Haig all of whom win free tickets to Bella 2013. CONGRATULATIONS RACHEL Congratulations to Rachel Sermanni for being a recent iTunes single of the week with her work ‘Waltz’. You can listen to it here. Rachel, from Carrbridge, has frequently graced the stages at bella on her rapid trajectory upwards in the music world. We wish her all the best.

	Follow Bella on  Facebook and  Twitter to get our latest news updates.

Space Invasion at The Sage Gateshead

This Saturday 22^nd September

 

Generator & Northern Film & Media present…

 

Space Invasion at The Sage Gateshead

 

with

GHOSTPOET

Raj Pannu (Coldcut)

Plus sets from The Tipping Point artists

Lulu James Jethro Fox

And screenings of works by

SBTRKT

   Lanterns on the Lake ft. Novak Collective

Paul Smith (Maximo Park)

Saturday 22nd September

The Sage Gateshead (Hall Two)

Doors open 7.30pmAdvance Tickets £8

Tickets available online thesagegateshead.org 

Ticket office 0191 443 4661

See below for full info x

 

 

 

 

Space Invasion is a special event being filmed for The Space, an experimental £2.5m digital 

arts initiative developed by Arts Council England in partnership with the BBC.

British singer and producer Ghostpoet’s Mercury Music Prize nominated debut album 

‘Peanut Butter Blues & Melancholy Jam’ immediately attracted plaudits from press, radio and fans alike. 

Support slots with Metronomy and performances at Glastonbury, Bestival and Latitude followed. 

Ghostpoet will bring his blend of experimental hip-hop, bittersweet lyrics and anthemic soul.

 

The gig also features a unique DJ and VJ experience featuring classic Old Grey Whistle Test performances 

remixed my legendary DJ Raj Pannu (Coldcut/Ninja Tune), 

sets from post-dubstep future star Lulu James and 

spell-binding Liverpool native Jethro Fox for The Tipping Point, 

plus screenings of works featuring SBTRKT, 

Lanterns on the Lake & Novak Collective, and Paul Smith (Maximo Park).

This celebratory evening will be presented by Hal Branson and allows 

the audience to get involved using innovative Screach technology. Download the Screach app here. 

                                                           All collaborations, performances and additional documentary 

                   pieces will be made available at 

http://www.thespace.org

Click here for more information about Space Invasion or contact Joe Frankland.

http://www.generator.org.uk/spaceinvasion

http://www.northernmedia.org

 

Delphic return to Newcastle

Tuesday 23rd October

 

Digital Newcastle presents

 

DELPHIC

plus support from

D/R/U/G/S

 

at DIGITAL Newcastle

Doors 7.30pm

16+ (under 18s to be accompanied)

Advance tickets £13.50+bf

click here to buy online

 

Local outlets : Beatdown - RPM

 

see below for full info x

 

 

 

We are pleased as punch to announce that Delphic

have announced a short run of live dates and they

will be returning to Toon

 

They haven't played Newcastle since they headlined

the Baltic Stage at Evolution in 2010

 

This will be a great chance to catch them in intimate 

surrounds and on Digitals amazing Funktion One Soundsystem

 

DIGITAL Newcastle

Times Square

NE1 1SE

 

http://www.yourfutureisdigital.com/newcastle

Kendal Calling Festival Goers Help Raise Over £15,500 for Charity

This year festival goers at Kendal Calling have helped raise over £15,500 for charity, exceeding the incredible £10,000 raised for charity in 2011. The funds will be split between the festival's chosen charities, many of which have been handpicked by the Kendal Calling team for personal reasons. The charities are Great Ormond Street Hospital, Guide Dogs for the Blind, the David Lynch Foundation, North West Air Ambulance and local charities Hospice at Home, Penrith Lions and TASCA project , which is based in Lowther village where the festival is held.

This year the festival saw the return of Hospice at Home who came stocked up with their stunning sunflowers. Distributing over 2,300 sunflowers, festival goers quickly added to the already magical site art with the bright flowers popping up on tents, children’s carts and all over festival attendee’s attire! Spreading like wildflowers, the sunflowers have become a festival icon and are even incorporated in the Kendal Calling logo!

Another of the fundraising ventures that became a festival favourite was Tim Peak's diner. New to the festival for 2012, the diner was the brain child of The Charlatans frontman Tim Burgess and his cyber vision became a reality for the first time at Kendal Calling. Open throughout the weekend the diner was a constant hive of activity, treating customers to impromptu performances from musical legends such as Edwyn Collins, as well as serving up the eagerly anticipated Totes Amazeballs cereal, which was created exclusively for Kendal Calling. The diner raised an almighty £1,500 for the David Lynch Foundation, which is, well, totes amazeballs!

Kendal Calling are blown away by the generosity of their amazing crowd who over the past 3 years have raised a staggering £35,000 for charity, a vast amount of which has been donated to the local communities and has helped thousands of people and numerous worthy charities continue providing their vital services. One of the local charities that Kendal Calling has supported for the past few years is the Penrith Lions. The Penrith Lions are a purely volunteer led organisation that help local families in distress, take senior citizens on outings and to concerts and provide opportunities for young people to better themselves.

Peter Goodwin from the Penrith Lions, says...

Our Motto is 'We Serve', one of the prime objectives of this service is:

'To take an active role in the Civic, Cultural, Social and Moral Welfare of the community we live in'

Kendal Calling’s generous donation enables us to reach these targets and on behalf all organisations, clubs and individuals both young and not so young who will benefit from this generosity. We offer a big 'Thank You' and wish you all every success for the future.

Ben Robinson – Co-founder and co-director of Kendal Calling

"We are honoured to be able to support these hardworking causes that directly benefit the local area. Having grown up in Cumbria our team hold these charities and the people they help out very close to our hearts. We'd like to say a huge thank-you to all the festival-goers who contributed to this year’s fund-raising, you've done us proud!" 

Plans are already underway for the festival in 2013 that will take place on the 26th-28th July. To keep up to date with all Kendal Calling news sign up to the newsletter at www.kendalcalling.com, become a fan on facebook and follow the festival on twitter @KendalCalling.

The festival looks forward to being back in the fields in 2013 and hopes to see the generous Kendal Calling festival goers smash their fundraising target yet again!