Happy summer everyone! Get out there if you can and bask in all the live music, take a chance on a theatre show, support artists, connect with your communities and maybe book some shows yourself! Here are a few highlights from across the region and as always, we’d love to hear what you’re up to, as a performer, producer, promoter or punter.
Out and About
Under Canvas, Eden Court’s outdoor summer festival, is back. Enjoy 42 days of live music, performance and DJ sets from 3 July – 24 August. We’ll be there for our Summer Social on Wed 17 July, with performances by Hannah Rarity and The Routes Quartet.
Check out Skybridge Studio Sessions – they have some great gigs lined up over the summer including Adam Ross + Constant Follower on 29 June, Ainsley Hamill on 2 July, Red Green & Blue with Uiseag supporting on 16 July and Laura Silverstone on 19 July.
There’s lots for families at Birnam Arts with a new adaptation of Jemima Puddle Duck on 17 July, including songs, drama + a meet/greet with P Rabbit. Unicorn Dance Party brings the joy and sparkles on 10 August.
SEALL’s brand new Festival of Words will celebrate the best in written word, spoken word and lyrical words on 17 & 18 August, with a top line up of writers, plus music from Kathryn Williams & Withered Hand.
The Big Tune plates up a weekend of traditional music at The Rockfield Centre on 17 & 18 August.
Lucky Muileachs have some great new work heading their way this season. Morag, You’re a Long Time Died, a dynamic, experimental musical, is a love letter to ancestors who ‘didn’t fit’ that playfully warps, disrupts and reconfigures traditional Scottish ballad singing. 17-20 July, venues acrossMull.
If you missed out on the magic of A Midsummer Night’s Dream on a rare sunny evening in Dunkeld last week, Perthshire has more open-air Shakespeare to come. Join The HandleBards at MacRosty Park, Crieff, for a bicycle-powered production of The Comedy of Errors. Fri 30 August, through Strathearn Arts.
Vanishing Point (& Imogen Stirling) are on tour with Love the Sinner, a co-production with Beacon Arts and Shetland Arts in September. It’s a beautifully produced fusion of performance poetry, visual theatre and live electronic music, that reflects on the meaning of being human today. Mareel Shetland; 5 & 6 September & Eden Court on 28 September.
Planning ahead? Get organised for Islay Jazz Festival, 20-22 September, and Findhorn Bay Arts Festival, 20-29 September. Shows and accommodation book up early 🙂
Members at the Edinburgh Festivals
If you’re heading to the festivals this year, join us for our Fringe Network Meet-Up at The Crannie on Mon 19 August. Are you performing? Any shows we need to see? Let us know!
We’re looking forward to seeing Amy Liptrot’s bestselling memoir, The Outrun, being brought to life by The Lyceum, as part of Edinburgh International Festival, 31 July – 24 August.
Dougie Mackay will be embarking on a journey through the storied soul of Scotland, with musical accompaniment by Freya Rae. Scottish Storytelling Centre, 12-26 August.
National Theatre of Scotland & Grid Iron Theatre Company tell the story of one of country music’s most iconic voices in June Carter Cash: The Woman, Her Music and Me. Summerhall, August 2-24.
Morna Burdon’s Gie’s Peace is a captivating tribute to remarkable women who have rebelled against war. Scottish Storytelling Centre, various dates in August.
Vanishing Point & Raw Material present a beautiful, tender and visually creative new show, Love Beyond, from renowned theatre artist Ramesh Meyyappan, in association with Aberdeen Performing Arts. Assembly George Square, 12-25 August,
We’ll be quiet over the summer as we set off on our own family adventures. We’ll be operating at a reduced capacity until Mon 19 August. If you need to speak to us in person, the phone line will be open Monday and Tuesdays. Otherwise email office@thetouringnetwork.com and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.
Enjoy! Don’t forget you can use our Access and Seed Funds to attend shows. Email office@thetouringnetwork.com to check eligibility.