Gaelforce

A late summer storm of arts and entertainment across Dumfries & Galloway

GaelForce creates the doorway for a storm of vibrant arts and entertainment that sweeps across Dumfries & Galloway from late summer into autumn. This year GaelForce will launch in the west on Saturday 16 August with a great night out at the Ryan Centre headlined by internationally acclaimed Irish dance company Celtic Feet, all set to thrill Stranraer with their exhilarating show. Be there!

You will find a rich diversity of festivals and events - from blues music on the Solway shore to off-the-wall cabaret, from tango weekends to new writing nights, from kinetic sculpture to a brand-new beer festival.

Hear great music at the opening of Bladnoch Folk and Blues Festival, voted No. 1 Gig in Scotland last year, join a procession of lanterns bobbing through the ruins of Scotland's oldest priory at Whithorn, or be swept away by Celtic Feet's exhilarating Irish Dance show in Stranraer - the choice is yours.

The GaelForce full colour FREE brochure is now available all over Dumfries & Galloway to help you find your way to unique and authentic events in this astonishingly beautiful part of Scotland. If you're lucky enough to live here you can do GaelForce by the day. If you're visiting, make the most of a short break and discover our glittering coasts, sweeping hills and friendly people for yourselves.

We are all looking forward to the third Lockerbie Jazz Festival, which will feature a range of International and Scottish musicians; late night cabaret from The Langholm Cupboard, which will open to reveal assorted cabaret ingredients gathered from London and Langholm, as two cultures collide to explore boundaries; and rural touring drama Women on the Verge of a T-junction from The MsFits ("Funniest & most attractive drama around" - Scotsman).

Down in Whithorn on the shores of the Solway you'll be able to discover the St Ninian Festival, a gathering with a street party atmosphere, lantern making workshops and a summer evening lantern procession around the thousand year old Whithorn priory. Guitar aficionados will seek out The CatStrand, a fabulous new arts centre in the village of New Galloway, for International Guitar Night. This annual touring showcase brings together some of the world's foremost acoustic guitar players to perform their latest original compositions, with loads of potential for great onstage interaction between very different styles.

There will be lots more! Wrapped into this 12th GaelForce season, are outdoor dance performances, street theatre, the family-friendly music festival The Hairth, high quality art exhibitions across the region, the acclaimed Poetry Doubles series and much more.

For further information including free brochures contact jean@dgaa.net or call Dumfries & Galloway Arts Association on 01387 253383 or visit www.gaelforceevents.co.uk.

Notes to editor:

The GaelForce season launches on Saturday 16 August 2008.
It is publicised through a free colour brochure, and via the GaelForce website at www.gaelforceevents.co.uk
The brochure will be available in July.
This is the 12th GaelForce season.
GaelForce has been successful both in attracting visitors to Dumfries & Galloway and in promoting the distinctive character of the region - creative, relaxing, warm, natural and authentic.
During the four months of the 2007 GaelForce season over 40,000 people attended GaelForce events.
GaelForce is delivered by Dumfries & Galloway Arts Association, in partnership with Dumfries & Galloway Council and Visit Scotland.

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

GaelForce 08 brings over 80 exciting events to Dumfries & Galloway this summer and autumn.

The GaelForce season begins in August and ends in early November, and its momentum has attracted a rich diversity of festivals and events - from blues music on the Solway shore to off-the-wall cabaret, from tango weekends to new writing nights, from kinetic sculpture to a brand-new beer festival.

Hear great music at the opening of Bladnoch Folk and Blues Festival, voted No. 1 Gig in Scotland last year, join a procession of lanterns bobbing through the ruins of Scotland's oldest priory at Whithorn, or be swept away by Celtic Feet's exhilarating Irish Dance show in Stranraer - the choice is yours.

Some tasters for the GaelForce season

Celtic Feet launch the GaelForce season this year with an evening of exhilarating dances and wonderful music. This internationally celebrated show has entranced and delighted audiences throughout the UK and Europe, and will be coming to the Ryan Centre, Stranraer, at 7.30pm on Saturday 16 August. Tickets are £17.50 and are available from the Ryan Centre. Celtic Feet, whose line-up includes five World Champions, were recently commissioned to appear at Windsor Castle for HRH the Queen's private staff party. "There is something here for everyone: a wonderful mix of Irish dance, tap, music and song..." Jersey Evening News.

Bladnoch Folk & Blues Festival is in its second year down by the river at the gorgeous Bladnoch Distillery Friday 15 August - Sunday 17 August. The best of live music from here and overseas, including the return of Michael Marra, the Marcus Mallone Band from across the pond, and the mercurial Mike Sanchez from Scotland, the crazy Kings of Cheeze and the Junkmans Choir, and from England The Moot, Edwina Hayes (via Nashville) and Eddie Walker....music that covers the whole broad spectrum of folk and blues, with exciting young players from Lithuania, Ireland and Norway. Loads more, plus pub sessions, workshops, kids events, and the BIGGEST BUSKING PRIZE IN THE UK! Camping on site at the Distillery, great local B&B's, the local market and loads of bookshops in the old county town of Wigtown up the hill ... a weekend for everyone! This event really is turning out to be one of the great small festivals - their first night concert last year won No. 1 Gig in Scotland last year by the Sunday Times. Go to www.bladnochfestival.co.uk Tickets available from: www.wegottickets.com or phone 01988 402 666.

It's all happening in Wigtownshire in August, because on Saturday 23 you can join the village of Whithorn for Whithorn's Shining Lights. This promises to be a delightful evening of light and sound suitable for all ages. Visit www.whithorn.info Tickets available from: Whithorn Visitor Centre, telephone 01988 500508.

Meantime, for anyone who enjoys literature, don't miss on this year's Poetry Doubles series. Poetry Doubles is a unique festival of poetry readings where some of the world's foremost poets share a stage with Dumfries & Galloway's most talented poets. Everyone is welcome to these funny, moving and exciting evenings. The next Poetry Doubles event is on Monday 11 August, when Moniza Alvi will be reading, paired with a special showing of a film, "In Person: 30 Poets", made to celebrate the poetry publisher Bloodaxe's 30th birthday. Poetry Doubles brochures are available in your local library, or contact Dumfries & Galloway Arts Association on 01387 253383.

Over in the east, Langholm and Eskdale Music and Arts Festival takes place from Friday 15 - Sunday 31 August. The festival, stretching over 3 weekends, will present something for everyone, with a chance to enjoy a wide spectrum of events from whisky-tasting to outdoor theatre, from Master-Chefs to Gilbert & Sullivan and most things in between.

The Festival is working very closely with the new Buccleuch Centre in Langholm, which is proving as promised, to be "one of the best music and arts venues in Southern Scotland". The Centre has provided Langholm with a state of the art, comfortable venue which, during its first year of operation, has proved hugely popular with audiences from all over southern Scotland and northern England because of its wide-ranging programme.

Some of the highlights of this year's Festival include:

• Robin Laing "The Angels' Share", 15 August

• Seth Lakeman in Concert, 16 August
• Master Chef - Paul Rankin, 17 August
• Aly Bain & Phil Cunningham, 17 August
• The Little Shop of Horrors, 21-23 August
• Chapterhouse Theatre Co. - Sleeping Beauty, Milntown RFC, 23 August
• Gilbert & Sullivan Scratch Performance, 24 August
  
• Country Legends, 29 August
  
  

And if you're looking for late night cabaret, Langholm is also presenting ??The Cupboard?? opens to reveal assorted cabaret ingredients gathered from London and Langholm. The two cultures collide to explore boundaries and the lack of them. It all adds up to: one hundred minutes of cabaret followed by music from DJ Radiogram to get down to... Tickets are available from: The Buccleuch Centre Booking Office, Buccleuch Square, Langholm, DG13 0AW, tel: 01387 381996, visit www.langholmfestival.co.uk or www.buccleuchcentre.com

On Friday 5 September Lockerbie Little Theatre will host "Land or Sea" a Folk/Jazz concert. Well-known local musician Michael Haywood brings his folk/jazz band of award winning musicians for what promises to be a captivating evening of great tunes and songs all performed with stunning musicianship and lively energy. "Land or Sea" play their own mix of jazz influenced folk music. A great night of music, song and dance, not to be missed! Tickets available from: The Little Theatre, 01576 202823

Combining art and new writing, Soundscapes is a unique idea - an evening exploring the inspiration and influence of Dumfries & Galloway's landscape on three different art forms. Soundscapes takes place at two locations, at the Whitehouse Gallery in Kirkcudbright on Saturday 4 October, where you can see Elizabeth Waugh's bronze sculptures, and at the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust at Caerlaverock on Friday 10 October, where William Spurway will be exhibiting his paintings. At both of these venues there will be a reading of new poetry by four poets whose work has been published in various anthologies and periodicals. All the poets have taken part in Dumfries & Galloway's Poetry Doubles series, and read regularly at various events both in and outwith the region. Tickets are available from Vivien Jones on 01461 700396.

And dancers don't miss out on The Solway Tango Extravaganza 2008, taking place in Annan from Friday 17th October to Sunday 19 October. The event will present workshops, private lessons and Welcome Milonga, as well as a display of dancing shoes and a Grand Ball with live music. There will be a special programme for complete newcomers to Tango. A brochure offering further information on timings and costs will be published in July and can be obtained from Alan Thomson 07799668435 or alan@dgaa.net See also www.annan.org.uk

The GaelForce brochure is available all over Dumfries & Galloway - pick one up and use it to find your way to unique and authentic events in this beautiful part of Scotland. If you're lucky enough to live in Dumfries & Galloway you can do GaelForce by the day. If you're visiting, make the most of a short break and discover our glittering coasts, sweeping hills and friendly people for yourselves. For a brochure or for more information please visit www.gaelforceevents.co.uk or contact Dumfries & Galloway Arts Association on 01387 253383.

Notes to editor:

Contact for GaelForce 08: Jean Atkin
Marketing Officer
Dumfries & Galloway Arts Association
Gracefield Arts Centre
28 Edinburgh Road
Dumfries
DG1 1JQ
t 01387 253383
e jean@dgaa.net

The GaelForce season launches on Saturday 16 August 2008.
It is publicised through a free colour brochure, and via the GaelForce website at www.gaelforceevents.co.uk.
The brochure will be available from July.
This is the 12th GaelForce season.
GaelForce has been successful both in attracting visitors to Dumfries & Galloway and in promoting the distinctive character of the region - creative, relaxing, warm, natural and authentic.
During the four months of the 2007 GaelForce season over 40,000 people attended GaelForce events.
GaelForce is delivered by Dumfries & Galloway Arts Association, in partnership with Dumfries & Galloway Council and Visit Scotland.