Five things you need to know today
Edinburgh Leisure have a new boss
Jen Holland who has worked with Scottish Borders Council at Director level for five years has been appointed to run Edinburgh Leisure, the charity which runs all leisure facilities in the capital owned by the council.
Tradfest 2024
This festival of traditional music takes place from 3 to 13 May. Get your tickets now for the array of traditional music concerts, storytelling, film, workshops, talks, ceilidhs and special events all supported by The National Lottery through Creative Scotland and the William Grant Foundation.
Headliners include VALTOS headlining a line-up of musicians including Assynt and Josie Duncan at the Queen’s Hall. Also playing on opening weekend is multi-award winning folk singer and guitar master Martin Simpson, and Scandi-fiddlers Nordic Fiddlers Bloc. Plus, Hands Up For Trad’s concert to celebrate #WorldPlayAStrathspeyDay takes place on Sat 4 May – the day when people all around the world are invited to record, video and upload themselves playing a strathspey to social media. And, the city’s annual May Day Parade on Sun 5 May will leave from the Castle at mid-day and finish at The Pleasance where there will be a rally, music and stalls.
Other huge Scottish talents joining the line-up are Julie Fowlis who will close this year’s festival at the Assembly Rooms with special guests Laura Wilkie and Ian Carr; Gaelic supergroup Dàimh; velvet harmonies from fresh new electro-trad band Birdvox (Inge Thomson, Charlotte Printer, Jenny Sturgeon, Sarah Hayes); Triptic formed from three members of Moishe’s Bagel (Greg Lawson, Phil Alexander and Mario Caribé); and a whole host of talented new musicians and soloists including BBC Radio Scotland’s Young Traditional Musician of the Year finalist 2024 Evie Waddell.
Vigil for Gaza
There will be a vigil for Gaza today at St Giles’ Cathedral and also next Friday at noon until 1pm. The San Ghanny Choir say all are welcome. “We will gather in vigil to mourn the many people killed over the last five months, and to keep calling for an immediate ceasefire, as well as for the safe return of hostages held by Hamas and the many hostages also held by Israel in the West Bank under ‘administrative detention’. We will keep singing for a ceasefire.”
Makers Market
The quarterly Makers Market will take place at Summerhall on Sunday. More details here.
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This month’s paper celebrates the 100th anniversary of Sir Eduardo Paolozzi’s birth in 1924.
