DUMFRIES AND GALLOWAYS BIG BURNS SUPPER BRINGS A FEAST OF TRADITIONAL MUSIC

A Feast of Traditional Scottish Music at Big Burns Supper 2015
All the magic of the Bard at Europe’s Largest Winter Fringe
Audiences will be treated to a wide range of traditional Scottish music plus a series of celebrations of the work of Robert Burns at Europe’s largest winter fringe festival.
Big Burns Supper 2015 is a nine-day festival of contemporary and traditional culture and a huge public celebration of the birthday of Scotland’s national Bard, Robert Burns. It is also part of Scotland’s Winter Festivals (a programme of events managed by EventScotland on behalf of the Scottish Government) and attracts thousands of visitors from across the UK and overseas.
Among the traditional music performers will be is BBC Radio Scotland’s Young Traditional Musician of the Year Robyn Stapleton, from Stranraer, the Border Strathspey & Reel Society Fiddlers and The Gallovidians.
Robyn said: “’I’m really excited to be performing at this year’s Big Burns Supper, and to be showcasing the songs of Robert Burns which are such an important part of the Scottish song tradition. It amazes me the way that Burns’ songs can capture an audience and deeply move them, so many years after the songs were first written. Timeless! Many of the songs I’ll be singing we inspired by the places visited and people he met whilst living in Dumfries, and that will make the concert all the more special.”
The poetry and song of Burns, sometimes with a contemporary twist, will be celebrated through everything from comedy to jazz.
Graham Main, Big Burns Supper Festival Artistic Director, said: “Burns loved Dumfries and the festival celebrates his spirit and his love of life. His work, alongside the traditional music of Scotland, are vibrant and essential parts of our culture and identity.
“It’s brilliant that we can offer audiences from all over Britain, and beyond, the chance to enjoy lots of traditional music and song and to enjoy the work of Robert Burns himself – as well as everything from jazz to comedy which he has inspired.”
• Robyn Stapleton: A young woman with a truly phenomenal voice and brilliant future. In recent months Robyn has performed live on BBC radio, on BBC Alba TV, at Commonwealth Games concerts and with the Scottish Symphony Orchestra. She graduated from Royal Conservatoire of Scotland with a First Class Honours degree in Scottish Music, specialising in Scots Song. Robyn grew up singing Burns songs and is a passionate ambassador of the Scots language.
• Smooth Jazz for the Bard: Returning from a successful appearance at last year’s Big Burns Supper and the Lockerbie Jazz Festival, Getz Group bring their smooth jazz to the world of Burns. Cool saxophone in the style of jazz legend Stan Getz, bringing jazz classics and Burns songs together in a unique show.
• Mark Meiklejohn: A fun, entertaining show with poems and songs of Robert Burns along with Standard English subtitles and a bit of context and discussion – making Burns accessible to all. Includes poems: To a Mouse, Holy Willie’s Prayer, Tam O’Shanter, and songs: You’re Welcome Willie Stewart, Green Grow the Rashes, Ae Fond Kiss, A Mans A Man, Auld Lang Syne.
• A Fine Voice & A Mesmerising Guitar: Pauline Alexander and Edwin Gallacher have been impressing audiences across Britain. They believe a good song is a good song regardless of genre, so you are just as likely to hear something from the Beatles or Dire Straits as you are a bit of Burns.
• True To Self: Spoken word and original music, telling a mysterious story about finding the real you in a material world. Accompanied by unique live music with hints of acoustic, soul, jazz and hip-hop genres. Has strong links with Robert Burns as a poet and lyricist.
• Border Strathspey & Reel Society: A fiddle with members come from across the Borders who play Burns music, Scottish music and much more. A singer will join the group to entertain the public with well-known Burns Songs for a sing along. It is a lively foot tapping and hand clapping show.
• Cup O’ Kindness: Inspiring audiences to take part in creating and performing their own music. An evening of poetry and song inspired by Robert Burns created and performed by members of Loch Arthur, the Dumfries Choral Society and Paragon Music.
• The Gallovidians: A small local traditional music group consisting of mainly fiddles and accordions playing popular, traditional Scottish and Irish music. The show is suitable for all age groups.
• The Meat Puppet Collective: An irreverent, time travelling comedy drama filled with gusto, shenanigans and endless adventure, which stars Grant Dinwoodie of Sparo & The Yahs. This romp through Burnsian history explores ways in which we can move forward to create positive change in the local community.
Other acts taking part in the festival include Nina Nesbitt, Hue and Cry and the Undertones.
BBS features 140 events which are taking place during BBS from 23-31 January. A highlight will be the Burns Night street carnival on 25 January which will feature bands, huge interactive puppets and hundreds of costumed performers. As 2015 is the UNESCO Year of Light one of the main features of the carnival will be lanterns made and carried by people from all across the region.
The festival is made possible by support from many organisations including 8020 and Dumfries and Galloway Council’s Beacon Event Programme.
Once again BBS has teamed up with other local festivals and promoters to present eclectic club nights which include the Eden Opening Party.
The carnival is supported by the Robertson Trust, Holywood Trust and Awards for All. Year of Food and Drink Scotland will build on the momentum generated by Homecoming Scotland 2014 with a series of exciting events and activities celebrating Scotland’s outstanding natural larder.
This year Big Burns Supper is proud to announce that it has teamed up with Barnardo’s Scotland as its first ever charity partner.