Absolute Classics concludes the season with the Fournier Piano Trio

From Ivy Moon Press

Outstanding, astonishing and unique, are just three of the adjectives which have been used to describe a concert by the Fournier Piano Trio. “When you can blow off a 400 seat concert hall with just three people playing, you know something extraordinary has happened,” said one enthusiastic reviewer.

And a mini tour of the region by this distinguished and exciting trio, will mark the grand finale to the highly successful 2014/15 Absolute Classics series. Since winning the 2013 Parkhouse Award, the London-based trio has been rapidly emerging as one of the world’s leading young piano trios. The young group of classical musicians are Taiwanese-British pianist Chiao-Ying Chang; Korean violinist Sulki Yu; and Australian cellist Pei-Jee Ng. All are leading musicians of their generation and have given recitals at some of the world’s most prestigious classical venues, including the Purcell Room and the Wigmore, Carnegie and Royal Festival halls.

As a trio, these three remarkable musicians have made critically acclaimed debuts at both the Purcell Room and Wigmore Hall in London and in 2011 embarked on its first European Tour after being selected for New Masters on Tour at the International Holland Music Sessions which culminated in their debut at the Amsterdam Concertgebouw. They have appeared at music festivals across the world, including Singapore, Hong Kong and Australia and have made regular visits to the Trondheim International Music Festival. Plans are afoot to record their debut album later this year for USK Recordings.

The Fournier Piano Trio begin their four-day concert series at Kirkcudbright Parish Church on Thursday, March 26, at 7.30pm. On Friday, March 27, the performance will take place at Annan Academy Performing Arts Centre, at 7.30pm. The venue is Greyfriars Church Dumfries on Saturday, March 28, again at 7.30pm, and Sunday, March 29, sees the final date in the Absolute Classics 2014/15 series when the trio will play out the last performance at the Buccleuch and Queensberry Arms, Thornhill, at 3.30pm.

Programmes include pieces by Haydn, Faure, Tchaikovsky, Schumann, Schubert and Dvorak.
Tickets in advance from www.absoluteclassics.co.uk or on the doors.

Absolute Classics returns in August with its popular summer festival and will once again feature the International Music Platform, bringing some of the world’s most highly-acclaimed musicians to Dumfries and Galloway. Director, Alex McQuiston, said: “It’s been an amazing year for classical music in the region. We have hosted some truly astounding performances, many to packed audiences and the feedback has been inspiring as well as very encouraging.

“The success of the programme is evidence that the people of Dumfries and Galloway are fully supportive of what we are trying to achieve: to bring the best calibre classical musicians from across the world to this predominately rural region. “We’re back in August with the popular International Musicians Platform - a 10-day concert series and weeklong masterclass series attracting performers and students from all over the world.

“In the meantime, Absolute Classics would like to thank everyone who supported us - the venues, the performers, the funders and, of course, the audiences - over the 2014/15 series and who all helped it to be so successful. “We look forward to seeing you all in August.”

A hint of Spring

From Alan Thomson DG Unlimited, Policy and Development Co-Ordinator and Area Arts Convenor for Annandale and Eskdale

For those who might not have noticed the lengthening days, or lambs gambolling in the fields, the arrival of the catalogues for Spring Fling and Dumfries & Galloway Arts Festival surely inform folk across the region that spring is just around the corner. These twin harbingers of exciting times to look forward to, at the end of May, evoke a flood of pleasant memories. Many will have happy recollections of journeys around our stunning countryside, fresh in its new season’s shades of green, to attend elements of these events, with growing excitement at the prospect of seeing and being stimulated by, a plethora of performances and art works during this annual surfeit.

It is encouraging to observe that both organisations are undertaking a process to discover if they are able to grow their capacity to deliver a service to the region on a year round basis and not just for a fabulous ten days in May. The ‘not just’ in this context seems very wrong, for when you get your own catalogues you will see the astonishing amount of riches therein and begin to understand the achievements of the small staff teams that have put these together, with invaluable input from their volunteer boards, members and supporters. Some intricate logistical planning will be required by those of us intent in making the most of the opportunities offered.

Meanwhile community activists and groups have been working together in the east of our region to develop the First World War Commemoration Project. A celebration of the pivotal role the area played in determining the outcome of the Great War. Work began in 1915 to build HM Factory Gretna and within two years, thanks to the efforts of 30,000 workers, this, ‘the greatest factory on earth, stretched for nine miles and was able to produce 1,000 tons of explosive a week. The townships of Eastriggs and Gretna sprang up, to the latest ‘Garden City’ designs with sufficient infrastructure to cater for all the needs of this new community – the biggest in Dumfriesshire.

This year there will be a commemorative service to mark centenary of the Quintinshill Rail Disaster on 22nd May. When a troop train collided with freight train and then was hit by a passenger express killing 227 just outside Gretna. The local young people of Centre Stage Theatre have been researching and devising an original performance work which will be presented at a variety of venues at the end of May. 

A programme of community events is planned for the August bank holiday and these are currently under development, as the ‘Pack Up Your Troubles Festival’. While a sub-group is planning a lasting legacy in the form of a bronze sculpture of a Munitions Girl, or Girls if funding allows. The campaign has got off to a flying start with a significant quantity of pledges received allowing the committee to begin the process of creating a shortlist of sympathetic sculptors.

www.gretna-firstworldwar.org.uk/heritage-map
www.devilsporridge.org.uk

DG Arts Festival Programme Announced

From DG Arts Festival

The Scottish Chamber Orchestra and comedian Hardeep Singh Kohli will be among the headliners at the Dumfries and Galloway Arts Festival.

A total of 82 acts will perform at 42 venues across the south-west over 10 days at the end of May. The event, which is in its 36th year, will also feature performances by the award-winning folk singer Bella Hardy and Scotland's Makar Liz Lochhead.

Young musicians: John Gilderdale-Smith, from Castle Douglas; Zoe Bestel, of Wigtown; Robyn Stapleton from Stranraer; and Deri Ronan, of Thornhill.

The programme was launched at Loch Arthur, Beeswing, on Wednesday. Organisers have pledged to showcase world-class music, theatre, comedy and literature in towns, villages and remote rural areas across the region.

Highlights include:

HARDEEP SINGH KOHLI – HARDEEP IS YOUR LOVE
FRIDAY 22 MAY, 7:30 PM. £15
THE CORNER HOUSE HOTEL, HIGH STREET, ANNAN DG12 6DL
Master of pace and quick-witted patter, there’s much more to Hardeep Singh Kohli than being a media funny man in a colourful turban.

SCOTTISH ENSEMBLE FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE
FRIDAY 22 MAY, 8:00 PM. £20
EASTERBROOK HALL, THE CRICHTON, BANKEND ROAD, DUMFRIES, DG1 4TA
This event was kindly supported in memory of NLH.

A celebration of two of Russia’s most celebrated composers heralds the sensational start to this year’s Dumfries & Galloway Arts Festival.

KIDDER THEATRE NORMAL / MADNESS
SATURDAY 23 MAY, 7:30 PM. £10
THE SWALLOW THEATRE, MOSS PARK, WHITHORN, NEWTON STEWART DG8 8DR (also showing in New Galloway)
Kidder Theatre brings the very best in drama to the region with its critically acclaimed humorous and heart-breaking play Normal / Madness.

GAVIN MARWICK’S – JOURNEYMAN SPECTACULAR
SUNDAY 24 MAY, 7:30 PM. £15
CASTLE DOUGLAS TOWN HALL , ST ANDREW STREET, CASTLE DOUGLAS DG7 1DB
Described as ‘a folk festival on stage’, Gavin Marwick’s Journeyman Spectacular is a phenomenal musical experience of short sets of 10 performers and a constantly changing musical line-up.

STANLEY ODD
SUNDAY 24 MAY, 8:30 PM. £12
THE CORNER HOUSE HOTEL, HIGH STREET, ANNAN DG12 6DL
5.00PM – WORKSHOP WITH DAVE HOOK
Alternative Scottish hip-hop with heart, mind, wit, grit, conscience and superb live musicianship, Stanley Odd’s sound is reaching well beyond the rapidly burgeoning subculture from which it emerged, borne on an escalating grapevine buzz that’s set to ramp-up several notches further, with the release of their second album Reject.

Artwork unveiled at Lockerbie Academy

From Spring Fling

A beautiful six metre long banner crafted by Lockerbie Academy students to celebrate their town was unveiled today (Monday).

It is made even more special by the addition of 52 individually designed coins, minted using The Stove Network's bicycle powered foundry, and hung from the bottom.

Image: Barry Young

The colourful artwork, which now takes pride of place in the school’s main entrance area, is the result of a joint initiative between Spring Fling, the academy, and Dumfries and Galloway Education Services. The project has been led by professional artists Morag Macpherson, Katie Anderson and Kirsty Turpie – a former pupil at the school. The aim was to give the students the chance to discover about life in the arts, learn new skills and contribute to a piece of artwork that will be enjoyed for decades to come. Morag, a renowned international textile designer based in Kirkcudbright, said: “We wanted to give the students a different perspective on art through getting to know working artists. We talked about our different practices and how they had developed. It gave them an insight into the lifestyle and career. “They really embraced the project and produced some very good work. Some of the young people were clearly very talented and clearly had a chance of getting into art school if that’s what they wanted to do.”

The banner is made up of dozens of 30cm squares, each with a repeating pattern based on line drawings the young people made of local buildings. They scanned the drawings, coloured them and created the patterns using specialised software.
At the same time Katie led the project to create a new currency for Lockerbie.
Katie said: “We wanted to know what they thought would be suitable for a currency for Lockerbie using designs based on their vision of their own town. And they came up with some really imaginative ideas.
“We also had a great day when I brought along the bicycle powered foundry which they could pedal to get it to the right temperature.”

Kirsty introduced students to the ancient art of paper collage. She said: “We used different types of paper to create collages and talked about different artists who the students might be inspired by. The results were really imaginative, I was very impressed.”
Each of the 32 collages has now been transferred onto a ceramic tile and will be displayed in the school. The project, which was funded by the Holywood Trust, gave the young people insights into life as a professional artist.

Image: Barry Young

Leah Black, Spring Fling Director, said: “This has been a great project which has produced a wonderful new piece of public art which the students and the school can be hugely proud of and which will hopefully be enjoyed for decades.
“The creative sector offers all sorts of fulfilling career opportunities for young people and is of growing importance to Scotland’s economy. This gave Lockerbie students a taste of what life as an artist could be like – and we hope it has fired their imaginations about what they can achieve in their own lives.”
The artists went into the school for five days in December and January and each worked with groups of pupils.

Carol Donnelly, art and design teacher at the school, said: “The artworks produced by our pupils are fantastic! Both the staff and the students have thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience!
“We would definitely recommend this type of collaboration to other schools as a way of enriching the classroom experience and accessing new skills, techniques and materials.”

The unveiling was attended by D&G’s Director of Education Colin Grant, who added: “I am delighted that students from Lockerbie Academy have had this exciting opportunity to work with professional artists, it will have no doubt added another dimension to their learning.
“What I am also pleased to see if a former pupil of the school coming back and sharing her knowledge and experiences with pupils and showing that you can succeed in life beyond school.”

Elshieshields 'Winter Talks'

From Dougie Strang

Sunday 15th March, 3pm
Elshieshields near Lochmaben. DG11 1LY.

Join us in the Barn for an afternoon of conversation with Margaret Elphinstone, one of Scotland's foremost novelists.

Margaret lives in Galloway and is the author of eight novels as well as short stories and poetry. Her fiction, mostly historical, is characterised by people on journeys to places on the edge – islands, frontiers – where cultures and ideas meet and evolve. She will read from and discuss her most recent novel The Gathering Night.

Tea, coffee and cake will be provided!
Admission £5, with proceeds going to a nominated local charity.

For more information and to confirm a place contact Ann (01387 810 280) or Dougie (01387 811 470)

Moffat Book Events Listings this Spring

From Moffat Book Events

28th February Writer's Workshop and book Launch

Michael Malone acclaimed crime writer wlil lead a writers workshop and talk about his new book "Beyond the rage"

Venue : Old Well Theatre, Old Well Road.Moffat 

Writers workshop 1pm till 2 pm 

Book launch 2pm

Tickets for workshop  5 pounds

27th March Karen Campbell in conversation

Karen Campbell, now resident in Galloway, author of the Anna Cameron books and "This is where I am " will talk about her new book "Rise"

Venue: Old Well Theatre, Old Well Road Moffat.

Time 1 pm. 

Tickets 5 pounds

23rd April An evening with Michael Kerins and Moffat Music Live

Storyteller and raconteur, Michael Kerins, who was a big hit at Moffat Academy last year. , presents his fund of stories and yarns accompanied by Moffat Music Live's, fabulous mix of blues, rock and folk music.

Venue: Buccleuch Arms Hotel, High Street, Moffat

Time: 8 pm

Tickets 5 pounds

Moffat Book Events is pleased to acknowledge the assistance of the Scottish Book Trust Live Lit scheme.

28th April Afternoon tea with Alexander McCall Smith

The author of the "No1 Ladies detective agency" and "44 Scotland Street" and many many more comes to Moffat to take tea and talk about his work.

Venue : Moffat House Hotel, High Street, Moffat  

Time : 2.30

Tickets: 10 pounds (includes afternoon tea)

28th May In partnership with Moffat Music Live: "Words and Music" : Liz Lochhead and friends [part of Dumfries and Galloway Arts Festival]

Liz Lochhead, Scotland's Makar.  will be accompanied by local writers and poets and Moffat Music Live's usual mix of great music and great musicians

Venue : Moffat Town Hall, High Street Moffatl

Time 8 pm

Tickets 10 pounds

Bar.

Moffat Book Events and Moffat Music Live is pleased to acknowledge the support of Dumfries and Galloway Arts Festival.  

Tickets will be available from Moffat Bookshop, 

5 Well Street, Moffat DG10 9DP    01683 478 088

www.moffatbookevents.com

GYRE 2015 Programme

From Elizabeth Roberts

Moffat-based charity GYRE is putting on three events in Moffat this year, all connected with Moffat's colourful history.
Our Covenanters event at the Town Hall in April will be accompanied by Craigieburn's famous cream tea (prop. Janet Wheatcroft),
Good eats and drinks will fuel our now customary celebration at Moffat Town Hall of John 'Tar' McAdam's road-building exploits in November (please note slightly later time)
This August at the Annandale hotel (thanks to Simon and Margaret Tweedie) we honour Moffat's Hugh Dowding and mark the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Britain.

Monday April 20th 2015 3-5pm
Venue: Moffat Town Hall
'Moffat and The Killing Time' speaker Scottish historian David S Ross
Tickets from Eventbrite and Moffat Books, Well St, Moffat.

Thursday August 27th 2015 3-5pm
Venue: Annandale Arms Hotel, Moffat
'Hugh Dowding and the Battle of Britain' - speaker Battle of Britain historian Stephen Bungay
Tickets from Eventbrite and Moffat Books, Well St, Moffat.


Thursday November 26th 2015 5-7pm
Venue: Moffat Town Hall
'Roads to and from Moffat'
2nd annual John McAdam celebration

Svetlana Mochalova and Slava Sidorenko with Absolute Classics

From Absolute Classics

February Concerts
Svetlana Mochalova, cello & Slava Sidorenko, piano

Date: Thursday 19th February
Time: 7:30pm
Location: Buccleuch Centre, Langholm
Cost: Book directly with the Buccleuch Centre: 013873 81196

Programme:
Schumann Adagio&Allegro
Beethoven Sonata op.5 no.2
James McMillan Kiss on Wood
Myaskovsky cello sonata no.2

Date: Saturday 21st February
Time: 6:30pm
Price: £50.00 including arrival drinks and three course set menu
Book Directly with Cavens: 01387 880234
Location: Cavens Country House Hotel

Programme:
Schumann Adagio&Allegro
Beethoven Sonata op.5 no.2
James McMillan Kiss on Wood
Myaskovsky cello sonata no.2

Date: Sunday 22nd February
Time: 3:30pm
Location: Buccleuch & Queensberry Arms, Thornhill
Cost: Adults £12.00, Under 26 Free
Book on line: www.absoluteclassics.co.uk

Programme:
Brahms Sonata in E minor
Brahms six songs arr. cello and piano (selection)
Scriabin preludes for piano
Rachmaninoff cello & piano sonata

The Effect on Tour - Langholm and Castle Douglas dates

From Heart of Hawick

Rehearsals are now underway at Tower Mill, Hawick, for Firebrand Theatre Company’s Scottish premiere of The Effect, by Lucy Prebble one of today’s most celebrated playwrights. The first performance of the tour opens at Heart of Hawick with a preview on Thursday 19 February and runs until Saturday 21 February  followed by performances in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Perthshire, Dumfries and Galloway and the Scottish Borders.

The Effect, is an unconventional and moving love story; sexy, funny, and thought-provoking in the exploration of the limits of medicine in today's pill-popping culture and spiced with warmth, humour and intelligence.

Director Richard Baron says: "Inspired by the consequences of a drugs trial at a private research unit at Northwick Park Hospital in which six volunteers suffered multiple organ failure, this is a highly topical and unusual love story in that it looks provocatively, movingly and humorously at the taboo subject of mental health and poses serious questions about the effectiveness and morality of the hugely successful anti-depressant drug industry. It asks what is a "normal" mind, do depressed people have a more accurate view of the world and is love itself merely a chemical reaction?

It's a very inventive piece that demands brave acting performances. We are therefore delighted to introduce Firebrand audiences to talented new faces Cameron Crighton and Scarlett Mack as the young drug trialists and experienced actors Pauline Knowles (A Slow Air) and Jonathan Coote (fresh from his West End appearance in The Audience starring Helen Mirren) as the supervising doctors, passionately opposed in their understanding of the science of depression and the value of medical intervention. Hopefully The Effect will stir the mind and move the heart."

Connie (Scarlett Mack) is a psychology student. Tristan (Cameron Crighton) is a charming drifter. Both have signed up to a clinical trial for a new antidepressant super-drug and sealed off from the outside world, the attraction between them turns into deeper feelings as their doses get stronger. They've been warned of side effects - can they trust their feelings, or is this just a chemical romance?

As the trial's overseeing physician (Pauline Knowles) and her superior (Jonathan Coote) contend with the illicit relationship of their charges, they become increasingly conflicted about the ethical implications of their work. It's soon clear they have a past beyond the laboratory and neither is objective about the complex issues that surround them.

Directed by award winning Richard Baron, The Effect features a stellar cast with set design by Ken Harrison, who received rave reviews for his design for The Ladykillers at Pitlochry Festival Theatre; lighting design by Matt Eagland and soundscape by Jon Beales all of whom have worked on previous Firebrand productions.

The original production opened to great acclaim at the National Theatre in 2012 and won the Critic's Circle Award for Best New Play for brilliant young playwright Lucy Prebble, author of the West End hit Enron and TV's Secret Diary of a Call Girl.    

The Effect is supported by Creative Scotland and presented in partnership with Heart of Hawick  and sponsored by Friends of Firebrand.

Tower Mill, Heart of Hawick  Thursday 19 – Saturday 21 February at 7.30pm

Tickets: (preview) Thursday 19 February £10

Friday 20 & Saturday 21 February £12

Fullarton Theatre, Castle Douglas Friday 6 March at 7.30pm 

Tickets: £10/£8

Box Office: 01556 504506 www.thefullarton.co.uk

Buccleuch Centre, Langholm Saturday 7 March at 7.30pm

Tickets: £10/£8

Box Office: 01387 381196 www.buccleuchcentre.com