On the Big Stage at Burns Light  -  Music and the First Minister

PRESS RELEASE
20 January 2009

Homecoming on your Doorstep. Dumfries & Galloway Celebrates!

Dumfries really will be the “Sanghouse” of Scotland on the 250th anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns when Dumfries & Galloway College Big Stage at Burns Light brings a roar of celebratory music to the start of Homecoming Scotland 2009.

As the lantern processions make their way across the old town of Dumfries, the Big Stage will play host to a fantastic selection of musicians, offering the best in contemporary and ceilidh music. 

The Feral Choir lead off, with a medley of Burns’ songs.  One of Scotland’s biggest community choirs, The Feral Choir is based at Castle Douglas, in the heart of Galloway, and is a choir which actively encourages membership from a broad community, using teaching methods that make music accessible to anyone, regardless of musical background. Entrance to the choir is without audition.  Acclaimed musician Ali Burns is the muse and director: “"I've always loved the sound of natural, untrained singing voices and it's a sound that's perfect for songs from Britain's folk repertoire. Of course singing in a choir demands discipline, but the style of these songs is unashamedly unlike that of classical music. Untamed song - yes - but we work hard to get it sounding like that".

Next up is the hugely popular Sensational Mary Barclay Band, who also hail from South West Scotland. Formed in 1995, the band members have spent the past 12 years learning their craft and honing their skills as musicians, performing throughout the UK at concerts, festivals, pubs and private functions including a live performance by the band on BBC Radio Scotland in February as part of Celtic Connections 2008. It’s hard to put their music into any specific category - the best way to describe it is a mix of country, folk, rock, pop and blues – a bit of everything! However, it’s not just the music but the talent of the band’s 4 members which make the Mary Barclay Band truly sensational. Vocalist and front-woman Mary Barclay has the capability of belting out a rock song and at the next moment tugging at your heartstrings. Mary is joined by guitarist Doug Carroll. He is a Rory Gallagher fan and is passionate about music – one of the best guitarists you’ll hear. Also in the line up is respected drummer Scott Taylor - founder member and backbone of the band. Bass player and essential band member Kenny Urquhart completes the group. Kenny has been with SMBB since 2003 and is a familiar face on SW Scotland’s music scene.
Expect a break from music then for a few minutes while no less than Scotland’s First Minister, Alex Salmond, takes to the stage to speak to the crowds for a few minutes before announcing headliner band, Skerryvore.

A driving sound of bagpipes, accordions and fiddle, fused brilliantly with kicking rhythms of guitar, bass and drums, Skerryvore are a young band blasting their exciting sound to audiences from the Western Isles of Scotland, to the thousands at Celtica in Italy.  An all male band, they have been dubbed the 'boy band' of traditional Scottish music. The roots of the band come from the West Coast of Scotland and in particular the tiny Island of Tiree, in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland.

Their debut album, 'West Coast Life' was awarded album of the month on BBC Radio Scotland's Celtic Connections program in August 2005. Their 2nd album, titled 'On the Road’, was released in July 2007 and went to re-press within a week of its release. With album sales now approaching 10'000, Skerryvore are a band capturing the hearts of audiences of all ages, at home and abroad.

Over the past 3 years, Skerryvore's transforming, explosive sound has seen them touring and performing at festivals world-wide including Celtic Connections, Hebridean Celtic Festival, MOK Festival, MagiaCeltica & Celtica Festivals in Italy and the Netherlands.  Skerryvore's highly anticipated 3rd album is due for release in 2009, and will see their tour expand for debut performances in Canada, Portugal and Spain.

After the lighting of the huge Tam O’Shanter fire sculpture, Dumfries Town Band will give it their best, as they have been doing since 1895.  They played for Royalty at the opening of DG One and have been on a roll ever since.  The band members range from talented kids still at primary school to tried and tested players with many decades under their belts, who work together to make a great sound.

To round off Burns Light the very popular Dangleberries will play traditional bagpipe music but with their unique brand of drums, guitars and critically, they say, tambourine!  With a great local following the Dangleberries have played The Wickerman, the Tartan Heart Festival, and what they describe as “village hoolies and any other shenanigans...”  And no Burns celebration should be without a great Auld Lang Syne – which will be created by a collaboration of the night’s talented musicians.  This will be a night not to miss.

If you would like more information about Homecoming on the Doorstep please contact Dumfries & Galloway Arts Association on 01387 253383, or email jean@dgaa.net.

ends

Notes to Editors:

• Burns Light is one of the major opening events of Scotland’s Year of Homecoming 2009.
• In Dumfries & Galloway the Homecoming programme is being delivered through a public, private and third sector partnership consisting of Dumfries & Galloway Council, Visit Scotland, EventScotland and Dumfries & Galloway Arts Association.
• The Dumfries & Galloway Homecoming programme is Homecoming on your Doorstep - Dumfries & Galloway Celebrates!  Dumfries & Galloway Arts Association is putting together a series of Homecoming on your Doorstep Guides which will provide free listings and enhanced entries for all regional events involved in the Homecoming year from January to November 2009.   Each Homecoming on your Doorstep Guide will be a free, full colour publication widely available both within and outwith Dumfries & Galloway.  The first one, covering January to April 2009, will be available in early January 2009.
• The website for Dumfries & Galloway’s Homecoming programme is www.homecomingonyourdoorstep.com, which will be live from 5 November 2008.
• Homecoming Scotland 2009 seeks to motivate people of Scottish descent, as well as those who simply love Scotland, to come home and join us in a national celebration of our culture, heritage and the many great contributions Scotland has given the world: www.homecomingscotland2009.com

Contact:
Jean Atkin
Marketing Officer
Dumfries & Galloway Arts Association
Gracefield Arts Centre
28 Edinburgh Road
Dumfries     
DG1 1JQ
01387 253383
jean@dgaa.net