Homecoming Scotland 2009: Local Events in Edinburgh

I Am Ever Yours, Robert Burns

Monday-Saturday 10am-5pm
Writers' Museum, Lady  Stairs Close

Robert Burns (1759-1796), Scotland's national bard, is best-remembered for his timeless songs and poems. Yet he was also an accomplished letter-writer who corresponded with over 200 people during his short life. This small but significant selection of manuscripts on display at the Writers' Museum focuses on 8 recipients of letters from Burns between 1783 and 1796. The letters themselves help to reveal something of Burns' character - his strengths and weaknesses, his humour and seriousness, his frankness and common-sense, his friends and acquaintances, his family ties, his love of his country and his history. City of Edinburgh Council Museums and Galleries

Burns Day Celebration

25 January -10.45am-4.30pm - Free Admission
National Museums Scotland, Chambers Street

Poetry, performers, art and music to celebrate Scotland's most famous bard: Robert Burns. From Burns impersonators to barn-stomping bands, this will be one big Burns Day celebration and marks the start of our programme of events for Homecoming 2009. Make sure you're part of it!   Celebrations start at 10:45 and continue all day.

National Museums Scotland

My Love and Native Land, Farewell

7 February - 22 March
Monday-Saturday 10am-5pm Sunday 12-5pm

The City Art Centre has set out to find the roots of the Scottish diaspora - who emigrated, and why?  My love and native land, farewell, features works from the City Arts Centre's collection.  It also explores the living and working conditions in Scotland when emigration was at its height. Many visitors have Scottish roots and they are fascinated by their distinctive ancestry. This exhibition offers an ideal opportunity to learn about our ancestors and what motivated them to move vast distances from their family and homeland. From 1650 Scots from both urban and rural life were enticed abroad by the hope of a better living standard. The major Scottish cities were known to be overcrowded, unsanitary, and constantly beset by smog. Farther afield, work for farmers and fishermen consisted of difficult manual labour. The increasing changes in land management spawned a class of dispossessed and landless workers. In both the Highlands and Lowlands, social dislocation and poverty prompted Scots to seek a fresh start. By 1900 over three million Scots had left, establishing Scottish culture around the globe.

City Art Centre

New Faces 2009

14th-28th February
The Leith Gallery

For details visit:  The Leith Gallery or email: info@the-leith-gallery.co.uk

A Red, Red Rose - Russian Settings of Robert Burns

Saturday 21st February, 7.30pm

Vassily Savenko, bass and Alexander Blok, piano. Exciting Russian settings of Robert Burns by Gyorgy Sviridov and beautiful Romances by Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninov and Medtner Tickets £16 concessions £14. Available on the door or through

The Hub Box Office

Scots Music Abroad

6 March - 23 May
National Library Scotland, George IV Bridge
Free Admission

Take a musical journey around the globe to discover the story behind Scots music and its legacy - and why Scottish music from overseas is now returning 'home' and influencing contemporary music in Scotland. In the ‘New World' countries of the Commonwealth, the arrival of Scots and their music had a lasting influence on the culture of the new country. In Europe, it was the inspiration of Scotland itself, and the fame of Scottish writers such as Burns and Scott, which led to elements of Scottish music being adopted by composers such as Haydn and Mendelssohn. For hundreds of years Scots have left their homeland and moved to new countries, taking their music with them. This musical journey explores the worldwide legacy of Scots music, from Haydn's arrangements of Scottish tunes to the hugely successful ‘homecoming' of fiddle music from Cape Breton, Canada to its roots in Scotland.

National Library Scotland

Footstomping - Traditional Scottish Fiddle Music

Join us for some footstomping as we have traditional Scottish fiddle bands in the bar playing from 9.00pm

For further information please visit the Whiskibar website or email info@whiskibar.co.uk

Edinburgh International Science Festival

6 April - 18 April
The 21st Edinburgh International Science Festival showcases the great contributions Scots have made to the scientific and technological advances, both at home and abroad. Something for all ages including workshops, shows and interactive exhibitions and a programme of talks and discussions on the hottest and most intriguing areas of science and technology. Venues across the city. For programme details please visit the Science Festival website.

Professor James Scobbie Professorial Lecture

27 April 2009 
The Royal Society of Edinburgh
5.30-8.00pm
Lecture is free but ticketed

"Subtle, exotic, and mysterious: Scottish accents and their value to Speech Science" In linguistics, the way your neighbours talk can be as surprising and theoretically important as any source of data. This talk will exemplify the techniques which literally let us look into the mouths of speakers. Ultrasound, for example, reveals the way in which some Scottish speakers produce a covert articulation of a word-final "r" consonant. This and other phenomena provide a fascinating insight into the complex dance of articulation. Its fine control structures and social variability reveal the complexity of "normal" pronunciation. James Scobbie is Professor of Speech Science at Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh To reserve a place, email Sarah Whigham or call 0131 474 0000 and ask for Sarah Whigham

The Gathering 2009 Poetry Competition

Closing date for entries 1 May 2009 - see website for details The Gathering 2009

The Gathering 2009 is a signature event of Homecoming Scotland 2009 In honour of The Gathering 2009, The Scotsman, in conjunction with the Scottish Poetry Library is launching a search for a poem that expresses the essence of coming together.

Poems are invited from children, young people and adults both from Scotland and from around the world, that will bear the title The Gathering - but which can interpret the subject in any way imaginable. The judging panel comprises:  Best selling author Alexander McCall Smith, Edinburgh Makar Ron Butlin, Roy Marsack of the Scottish Poetry Library, Jenny Gilmour from The Gathering 2009 and Claire Smith from The Scotsman.

Ye'll have had yer tea!!

27 May 2009
5.30pm - The Music Box, Stevenson College
Tickets £5 adult/£3 child/concession
Stevenson College Edinburgh's up and coming composing and performing talent play original music inspired by the works of great Scottish poets as well as versions of contemporary songs by favourite Scottish artists loved the world over.   The first year students on the HND popular music performance course will demonstrate the wealth of musical and compositional talent to come out of Scotlsnd and will perform music and songs they have composed for great Scottish works by poets from George Mackay Brown to Robert Burns as well as a repertoire of contemporary music by other Scottish artists.

For further information visit: Stevenson College/Music Box

Leith Festival

5-14 June
150 events, 50 venues all within a mile of the foot of historic Leith Walk.
Leith Festival is a proven highlight in the Scottish festival calendar. Leith Festival is an annual Community Arts & Music Festival showcasing drama, visual arts, sport, live music, comedy, literature, film, walks, talks & local history with over 150 events over the 10-day period, which culminates in the Gala Day and Pageant. Leith is a multicultural community and our Festival celebrates the shared heritage & culture of all of those who call Scotland their home.

Leith Festival

Warlock And Witches In A Dance

2 May - 31 July
Writers Museum, Lady Stairs Close
Monday-Saturday 10am-5pm Free Admission

Expressive art inspired by the words of Robert Burns, created from a series of specialist creative writing and art workshops. Work by the Pentland Community Art Club and 12 people from the Royal Blind School.

City of Edinburgh Council Museums and Galleries

Stramash - THE Scots Music Show

Every Thursday - June 18 to July 23 Times: 8:45-19:55 and 20:30-21:40
Augustine United Church, 41 George IV Bridge, Edinburgh, EH1 1EL
£7(£6 students/senior citizens, £5 under 12s)
Tickets: from June 4, online via website, from Edinburgh Information Centre on Princes Street, from Coda Music on the Mound or at the door.
A new event introducing you to Scotland’s rich heritage of music and song, performed by singers and musicians immersed in today’s traditional music. A must for both locals and visitors. 
www.stramash-scots-music.org or Email: info@stramash-scots-music.org

Razzmatazz Homecoming Party

20 June 2009 - 12.00-5.00pm

Redhall Walled Garden is a beautiful 18th century Georgian Walled Garden which was commissioned the year before the birth of Robert Burns (Commissioned to Bowie)and would seem the ideal place to hold a huge costume birthday party to celebrate his life, works and his love of the land! The event is called The Homecoming Razzmatazz and will take place on the 20th June from 12-5 p.m. We have planned a day of music with 5 live local bands playing, superb organic cafe and lots of entertainments for the whole family including pony trap rides, face painting, nature trails, crafts and many more. Redhall itself is an award winning garden and is one of the few working organic walled gardens in the country and well worth a look in its own right. It is situated in a 6 acre estate which has been developed to increase natural habitats and diversity and the day will include stalls run by various environmental agencies which will do interpretation activities on the estate throughout the day. The estate sits in the wonderfully scenic Colinton Dell and is part of the Water of Leith Walkway. Redhall Walled Garden is a mental health service managed by SAMH, dedicated to mental health and well being for all. To book tickets phone 0131 443 0946.  For further information visit the SAMH website.

Seven Hills Race

Sunday 21 June 2009

Every year on the 3rd Sunday in June, a couple of hundred hardy individuals take part in one of the most unusual running events in the country, The Seven Hills of Edinburgh - a combination of road-running, cross-country, hill-running, and urban orienteering... 14 miles in length and with 2200 feet of ascent/descent. [Course Information]It attracts runners of all ages and all abilities - from the leading distance-runners who get round in 100 minutes, to the more modest performers who may take up to 4 hours. But they all enjoy the satisfaction of completing one of the most scenic and challenging of sporting courses. In the Year of Homecoming : The Seven Hills is joining in the spirit of the Year, so there will be special prizes in 2009 for the first overseas runners, male & female.

Visit Seven Hills Website for information on how to register

Robert Burns & The Scottish Diaspora - International Conference

Napier University, Edinburgh

This two-day conference, at Edinburgh Napier University will explore various aspects of the Scottish migrant experience, nationalism and national identity, and the politics, language and iconography of Burns. Speakers include: Prof Chris Harvie MSP, Prof Richard Finlay (University of Strathclyde),Prof Graeme Morton (University of Guelph), Prof Don MacRaild (Northumbria University), Dr Marjory Harper (University of Aberdeen). Conference rates start at £30, which includes teas and lunch - dinner is optional. To book contact Dr John Burnett or visit the Conference website

Open Scottish Chess Championships

11th-19th July
City Chambers, High Street, Edinburgh
Chess players from around the world will be participating in the Open Scottish Chess Championship, which takes place at Edinburgh's City Chambers in the High Street. Grandmasters, who have already agreed to take part include; McNab, Rowson, Shaw and Prasad. Spectators are welcome but it should be noted that for security reasons anyone entering the building must register.For further details on how to register as a spectator or to participate please contact: Jonathan Grant, International Director, Chess Scotland.
E-mail: international@chessscotland.com or visit Scottish Chess Championship Website

The Gathering

25th-26th July 2009 Holyrood Park 

A celebration of Scotland's clan heritage will see the biggest gathering of the clans for almost 200 years. The Gathering 2009, a 2-day coming together of clansmen and clanswomen from around the globe is expected to attract over 8,000 clansmen, as well as a further 30,000 local visitors to the event planned for 25th - 26th July 2009 in Edinburgh.  The highlight will be a clan parade up the Royal Mile and historic Pageant of the Clans in the arena on the Castle Esplanade, the first time the clans will have gathered in such numbers in Edinburgh. Holyrood Park will be the home for The Gathering 2009, featuring the World Heavy Highland Games Heavy Events Championships as the main showpiece. There will be a strong focus on the traditional Highland Games activities including top international pipe bands, highland dancing, traditional and contemporary music, together with a Taste of Scotland experience provided by a selection of top quality food producers. In addition, it will be possible to research clan histories and genealogy alongside a host of other activities taking place throughout the weekend.

Wine in the City

7 August - 28 August 2009

City Chambers, High Street, Edinburgh

Come along to Wine Tasting School and learn the art of Sniff, Swirl & Slurp sensational wines. Suitable for complete beginners. 4 and 5 star rated at the fringe 2008 and a sell out. We are featuring special tastings marked by the homecoming flag which either have a link to Scotland or have a Scottish name. Most of these wines are made by ex-pats. Our premier tasting will feature Champagne & Chocolate. Wine Tasting School is run by a professional wine educator affiliated to the Wine &  Spirit Education Trust (the leading educators in wine. Tickets priced £18 can be booked at www.edinburghwineschool.co.uk or www.edfringe.com or by phoning 07855 284875 or in person at the Fringe office.   For further information email info@edinburghwineschool.co.uk

Auld Sangs and New Rhymes

8th August - 22nd August
Nightly 7.30pm : Matinee Saturday 22nd August at 2.30pm
Tickets; £9 (£7 concessions)
A dramatised celebration of the life anf works of Robert Burns with live music, songs and poems. Leith Theatre has been entertaining audiences for 30 years with their Burns shows and this is our 26th year on the Fringe. To book tickets phone 01312 226 0000 or online at www.edfringe.com or www.leiththeatre.com

Write in Edinburgh

Aug 17-20 : Aug 24-27 2009

The Engine Shed The Engine Shed

‘Write in Edinburgh’ workshop in the heart of the UNESCO city of literature in the 250th anniversary of Robbie Burns! 4 days of workshops with presenters who are published poets and translators of Auld Scots, authors of nano-fiction and short stories, lecturers in psychology, critical writing and Edinburgh-based publishers. One of the workshops is on Auld Scots and poetry (by a published poet and translator into Auld Scots). Participants will also visit the Poetry Library, where they will have a special guided tour. Come to Edinburgh, an old haunt of Robbie Burns and write in the heart of the city to your hearts’ content. Participants will see their finished pieces published in a ‘Write in Edinburgh’ anthology.  For details on how to register please telephone 0131 466 9134 or visit the event website: www.amiando.com/writeinedinburgh.html

The Kilt Walk

Saturday 22 August 2009
Registration Fee:  Adult £10; Child £5; Family Ticket (up to 2 adults and 3 children) £15

The Kilt Walk is a sponsored event taking place during the Homecoming Scotland 2009 programme. This is a chance for all the family to proudly wear your kilt, along with hundreds of other tartan walkers, on a 5km route around some of Scotland's most famous sites. Starting and finishing at the Ross Theatre in Edinburgh's West Princes Street Gardens, the route loops round the Gardens, past the back of Edinburgh Castle, before dropping back down to the finish directly below the mighty castle ramparts! The build up to the walk starts at 11.00am with a foot-stomping ceilidh to get you warmed up. The Walk will start at 12.00pm, and should take a maximum of one hour to complete. Every participant will receive an event t-shirt and a Scottish-themed goodie bag. There's a host of entertainment planned at the Ross Theatre, featuring Scottish bands Imelsa, the Commotion Women Drummers and Cantara. There will also be family-themed entertainment throughout the day, including a performance by the Edinburgh Postal Pipe Band, face-painting and a competition for the best tartan-clad walker. For further information visit: http://www.kiltwalk.org and information on The Rock Trust http://www.rochtrust.org/about.htm

Edinburgh Riding of the Marches

Sunday 6th September

Holyrood Park - Royal Mile, Edinburgh   [Registriation for riders is now closed]

The Marches will be re-introduced in Edinburgh which will see over 250 horses parade in the centre of Edinburgh.The event on 6th September 2009 will see riders make their way from Tower Farm stables in the Braid Hills into the city and up the Royal Mile to the Mercat Cross.The Riding of the Marches was originally held between 1579 and 1718, where the purpose was to inspect the Common Land and boundary markers of the city to stop the unlawful encroachment and the integrity of the city boundary.In 1946 there was a one-off Riding of the Marches in Edinburgh to celebrate the end of the war, but has not been repeated since.A new banner has been commissioned that bears the Arms of the City of Edinburgh Council and was first recorded in the Public Register of All Arms and Bearings in 1774. The banner is being donated to the Lord Provost by Robert Miller from RH Miller as a gift to the City.For more information visit Edinburgh Riding of the Marches website

Friday 11 September 2009

7.00pm for 7.30pm
The RLS Club (founded in Edinburghin 1920) invites Homecoming Scots to join members in a one-off literary dinner within the former home of Robert Louis Stevenson. This unique event aims to celebrate the links between Stevenson and two other figures in Scottish writing, the poet Robert Fergusson (1750-1744) and Robert Burns (1759-1796) who acknowledged his debt to Fergusson in inpsiring him to embark on writing poetry in the Scots vernacular. Stevenson *1850-1894) was the first to link all three writers together referring to them as "the three Roberts" and stating that, "I had always a great sense of kinship with poor Robert Fergusson". In the course of the dinner three leading authorities will speak on each of the authors in turn and there will be a programme of related readings and Scots music interspersed throughout the meal. Tickets priced at £55 per person inclusive of wines are on sale - to book call 0131 556 1896. For further information please email mail@stevenson-house.co.uk.  Accommodation is limited to 35 persons, early booking is essential

Saturday 19th September - Parade:5.00pm(Free)  Ceilidh:£6 (in advance) £7 on the night.

To celebrate Homecoming 2009, The Forth Bridges Accordion Band are going to hold a chairty evening on Saturday 19th September 2009. The evening will consist of a marching band parade along the High Street of South Queensferry and a Family Ceilidh afterwards in South Queensferry Primary School from 8pm. This will be a fun evening for all those involved and we would like to ask members of the local community to come out in full-force to support our bands taking part in the band parade.  Money raised from this event will be split between band funds and Birth Tay (An IVF Treatment Unit) at Ninewells Hospital, Dundee

For further information visit the Band website or email accordionband@hotmail.com or book tickets by telephoning 07834 903858

Thursday 24th September-Sunday 27th September

Murrayfield Ice Rink, EdinburghThe most exciting ice hockey event comes to Scotland this September. The Edinburgh Capitals, Scotland's only Elite league Ice Hockey team, are hosting a four team tournament to celebrate Scotland's contribution to the game of Ice Hockey and "Ice Hockey's Homecoming". The teams will be fighting it out to win the Gardiner Cup. The tournament will feature two American Hockey League (AHL) teams, the Toronto Marlies (AHL Affiliate of the Toronto Maple Leafs) and the Hamilton Bulldogs (AHL affiliate of the Montreal Canadiens) and 2 UK Elite league teams, the Edinburgh Capitals and the Belfast Giants. It will take place at Murrayfield Ice Rink in Edinburgh. The timetable is - Thursday 24th September - a "head to head" clash between the Hamilton Bulldogs and the Toronto Marlies.  - Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th September - a Festival of Ice Hockey, a four team tournament where the best of UK Hockey face off against two of Canada's top teams.   To buy tickets visit Edinburgh Capitals Ticket Line

9th October - 11th October 2009
Tickets: Free-£10
The second community-run Balerno Music Festival features more than 20 concerts and events for all the family.  For adults there is a mix of instrumental, vocal and fold concerts; a ceilidh dance; a jazz evening; folk music sessions and more.  Kids events cover ages three to secondary, from fun activities to educational workshops. For further information visit the website www.balernomusicfestival.org.uk or email bpc-admin@btconnect.com

Saturday 28 November

Princes Street Edinburgh - Cars on show in Parliament Square from 3pm Parade starts 5pm
Free Event for Homecoming's Finale Weekend
Be part of the spectacular cavalcade that will celebrate Scotland’s history of invention and culture here in Edinburgh. See an electrifying, illuminated art car parade featuring such sights as a Robert Burns poetry van, a Burke and Hare barrow, a golf car, a whisky truck and a bagpipe truck!   
http://www.artcarparade.co.uk/

OOR Tours - The only musical walking tour of Edinburgh

The only musical walking tour of Edinburgh.  History and stories of  Edinburgh with songs performed by Graeme E Pearson. He will guide you through the closes and courtyards of  The Royal Mile and illustrate the people and events that shaped Edinburgh with music.  It is often forgotten that, before the invention of mass media, like television, radio and the internet, songs by the people were very much part of our culture. Your guide uses traditional and modern Scottish songs to entertain and inform.  

OOR Tours website

Venue: 3 Red Telephone boxes on The Royal Mile, Edinburgh

Tickets:  £10 adult/£8 seniors and students/Children under 7 free  Performance times: Reservations only
Book tickets: via the website or phone +44(0)7817 362171 : Email: ask@oortours.com

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For information of other events and festivals please visit:
Events Edinburgh
The City of Edinburgh Council
Edinburgh's Festivals