Folk in focus for Festival celebration
THE Edinburgh International Festival is to stage an all-day celebration of folk music at Leith Theatre.

Beginning in the afternoon and running into the wee small hours of Saturday 18 August, Lau-Land will be presented by the award-winning folk band Lau and will feature an eclectic collection of international artists and special guests as well as community folk sessions.

The day kicks off with the Big Tune Machine, a celebration of folk music, its community and the sharing of music. Working with Amy Geddes and Donald Knox of Fyne Fiddles, Lau will lead a performance featuring new arrangements of traditional folk music from the Big Tune Machine Band, a group of community folk musicians from Edinburgh and the Lothians who range in age from 10 through to players in their 60s. 

In the evening, Kris Dever, Martin Green and Aidan O’Rourke of Lau will lead a host of collaborators including the singer-songwriter Joan As Police Woman, folk singer Alasdair Roberts alongside Siobhan Milller, and the psychedelic sound of James Holden & The Animal Spirits.

Bursary funded by Children’s Lottery
THE national youth performing arts company Scottish Youth Theatre has been awarded a £41,712 grant from the Scottish Children’s Lottery.
The grant to the company, which has a host of famous Scots among its alumni, including Gerard Butler and Karen Gillan, will allow SYT to launch a new bursary fund, which will enable disadvantaged children and young people to experience the benefits of its theatre arts programmes. As well as covering the cost of assisting young people with additional needs, the fund will help pay for travel and accommodation for those from remote parts of Scotland.

Jacky Hardacre, the chief executive of Scottish Youth Theatre, said: “We know that participation in theatre makes a massive contribution to young people’s personal and social development, particularly increasing their confidence - all transferable skills for entering the world of work, regardless of their chosen profession.

“The Scottish Children’s Lottery clearly understands these wide benefits.”
 
Australian sell-out panders to pooches 
THE absurdist Australian comedian Claire Sullivan is to perform a dog-themed show at the Edinburgh Fringe.

In I Wish I Owned A Hotel For Dogs, Sullivan takes the audience through dog breeds, a dog show, dads, gross poetry as well as what it’s like going through life as a young woman.

The show has already been a sell-out at Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Adelaide Fringe, Midsumma Festival, Melbourne Fringe, Perth Fringe and Prague Fringe. 

Group challenges promoters with gigs
A GROUP of young people with learning disabilities have joined forces to put on a day of free live gigs for people with disabilities in Scotland – and are challenging venues and promoters across the country to follow their lead. 

The group, who are members of charity ENABLE Scotland’s Active Community of Empowered (ACE) youth network, say they are fed up with not having the same opportunities to socialise and make friends as their non-disabled peers. 

To celebrate the Year of the Young Person 2018 and break down barriers, the group is launching the You Can’t Stop the Beat pilot, after receiving £10,000 in funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

The free gig will be held on Sunday 12th August at the Scottish Youth Theatre and will feature a silent disco, karaoke, gaming and relaxation zones. The line-up was decided after consulting young people with learning and physical disabilities, and the group’s own personal experiences.

The gig will also feature live music from artists who have learning disabilities.