Farnham Maltings’ upbeat and “fabulous” performance of Brilliance will light up Lockerbie Town Hall on 29 November and Wigtown County Buildings on 30 November.
Set in the winters of 1963, everyone is gathering in the village hall as Daisy places her hand on the switch and community life is never the same again. Long after its arrival in the city, the slow process of rural electrification is starting to illuminate every corner and crevice of village life. As the dark evenings close in, 240 volts of alternating current and the humble electric light bulb allows people to gather and sing long into the night.
Arts Live programme director Peter Renwick said: “This is a unique and enlightening piece of musical theatre delivered by a company with a very long and successful track record of bringing some excellent productions to rural communities.
“Brilliance is a celebration of change to village life with the coming of innovation. It has song, music, drama and the audience is invited to join in. This is an event which is truly not to be missed and Arts Live is privileged to be hosting Brilliance as part of its UK tour.”
Through its LEADER-funded Support for Ambition project, Arts Live helps the region’s venues, promoters and performing artists to put on top quality live events of their own.
Coming up this month as part of the programme is a concert by Scottish folk musician and singer-songwriter Ewan McLennan who comes to Davington Schoolhouse, Eskdalemuir, on Saturday 11 November, 7.30pm as part of their series of house concerts.
Auchencairn-based cèilidh dance band Whirligig continue their tour of rural locations in the region with a series of cèilidh dance evenings complete with top quality music and a caller. They come to St Ninian’s Hall, Isle of Whithorn, on Saturday 18 November, 8pm; and Gatehouse of Fleet Community Centre, on Friday 24 November at 8pm.
Absolute Classics presents internationally-acclaimed classical musicians Nicholas Jones, cello, and Min-Jung Kym, piano, who will give a programme including music by Beethoven, Rachmaninov, Franck and Debussy on Friday 24 November, 7.30pm, at the Cochran Hall, Kirkcudbright; and on Saturday 25 November, 7.30pm, at Holywood Village Hall.
In December, Absolute Classics celebrates the festive season with two concerts by leading British brass chamber group Septura Brass who bring together some of the UK’s top players to redefine brass chamber music through the uniquely expressive sound of the brass septet. They will play in Christmas on Saturday 9 December, 7.30pm at the Cochran Hall, Kirkcudbright; and on Sunday 10 December, 7.30pm, at Holywood Village Hall.
Award-winning Scots Trad singer-songwriter Emily Smith returns to the region with her popular Christmas tour and comes to Langholm Parish Church on Saturday 16 December at 7.30pm. Emily will be joined on the night by Jamie McClennan on fiddle and guitar and Blazin’ Fiddles’ Anna Massie on guitar.
Absolute Classics celebrates the festive season with two concerts by leading British brass chamber group Septura Brass. Septura brings together some of the UK’s top players to redefine brass chamber music through the uniquely expressive sound of the brass septet.
Arts Live Promoters and Performing Artists Network is a new project funded by the Scottish Government and the European Union LEADER 2014-20 Programme, Creative Scotland, The Holywood Trust, Dumfries and Galloway Council, DG Unlimited Regional Arts Fund, The Robertson Trust, The William Grant Foundation.
Tickets from the Midsteeple Box Office on 01387 253383. For full details and online tickets visit www.dgartslive.org.uk
