Press release -
Ryder Cup Gala Concert hosts announced as Scotland gears up for one-off extravaganza
Some of the biggest names in comedy, TV and radio have today (Tuesday 9th September) been announced as presenters for the very special Ryder Cup Gala Concert which will take place at The SSE Hydro on 24th September.
James Nesbitt, Edith Bowman, Fred MacAulay, Elaine C Smith and Des Clarke will take to the stage to introduce specially commissioned works from artists across Scotland.
As momentum gathers for what will be one of the most talked about events of the year, organisers have also released artist impressions of how the stage will look for the concert, showcasing an orchestra bathed in light which will be accompanied by some specially commissioned films depicting the real people of Scotland and the country’s beautiful landscapes.
The Gala Concert will unite contemporary music talent including Chic legend Nile Rodgers, Texas, Jake Bugg, Twin Atlantic, Amy MacDonald, Nina Nesbitt, Eddi Reader, Midge Ure, and Danny Wilson on the same stage with Scotland’s leading arts agencies – the Scottish Ballet, Scottish Opera, National Theatre of Scotland and RSNO, who will share a stage for the first time.
A strong feature of the evening will be the presentation of The 2014 Ryder Cup Teams, with the USA and Europe players appearing on stage together for the first time with their captains Paul McGinley and Tom Watson ahead of the epic golf showdown at Gleneagles.
Radio DJ Edith Bowman and actor James Nesbitt will co-host the evening – both well known for their great rapport with audiences, with Edith having hosted countless awards shows and festivals, including Radio 1’s Big Weekend and BAFTA Scotland Awards, while James, being best known for his roles in ITV drama Cold Feet and the Hollywood blockbusters, The Hobbit and Bloody Sunday, is also a huge golf fan and one of this year’s Ryder Cup Ambassadors.
James Nesbitt, an ambassador for The 2014 Ryder Cup, said:
“The Gala Concert is the perfect curtain-raiser for The 2014 Ryder Cup and I’m honoured to play a role with Edith in welcoming the European and USA Teams to Scotland. As an avid golf fan it’s a real privilege to be involved in The 2014 Ryder Cup – it is a unique and historic competition and the Gala Concert’s line-up promises to see music, arts and golf fans alike come together to sample the atmosphere of one of sports great events.”
Edith Bowman said:
“I’m very excited to be hosting the Ryder Cup Gala Concert with Jimmy. Not only is it a fantastic line up with something for everyone, but I'm thrilled about the orchestral collaborations. The Ryder Cup is such a huge date in the golfing calendar that I am only too aware of. Growing up in Anstruther, surrounded by courses, I have always had a soft spot for the game - I’m just not sure that I would trust Jimmy’s current handicap if we were to have a game.”
Actress and comedian Elaine C Smith will present an excerpt from the National Theatre of Scotland’s ‘Glasgow Girls’, an award winning tale which will be showcased at The Hydro for the first time ever as part of the Gala Concert.
The BBC’s Fred MacAulay, who recently travelled across Scotland during the Commonwealth Games 2014, will lend his much-loved humour to the evening, as he interviews team captains before they are presented on stage.
Plus, Capital FM breakfast host and comedian, Des Clarke, will also join the presenting team, ensuring the laughs and energy continue throughout the evening.
Geoff Ellis of DF Concerts & Events said:
“We are delighted to announce that some of the best personalities and comedians in the UK have come on board to host and present The Ryder Cup Gala Concert. This evening is about showcasing a wonderful smorgasbord of entertainment and celebrating the spirit of the Ryder Cup itself. Whether it’s because of the touching performances or comedy, there won’t be a dry eye in The Hydro on September 24.”
Mike Cantlay, Chairman of VisitScotland said:
“Including some of the biggest names in comedy, TV and radio, this hugely exciting one off concert, which will showcase the very best of Scotland, is set to be an incredible evening of music, theatre and dance. With the backdrop of Scotland’s beautiful landscapes, celebrated music stars, leading arts agencies and the European and US golfing stars of The Ryder Cup - the stage is set for an unforgettable curtain raiser. Scotland will welcome The Ryder Cup, one of the biggest sporting events in the world, in style.”
Tickets are on sale now and available from www.ticketmaster.co.uk, www.ticketsoup.com or by calling 08444 999 990 or 0844 395 4000. Visit www.rydercupgalaconcert.com for more information
For further information contact:
Pam Scobbie or Victoria Irvine at Wire Media
E: victoria@wire-media.co.uk / pam@wire-media,co.uk
T: 0141 440 6761
Topics
- Tourism
Categories
- corporate communications
- ryder cup
Regions
- Scotland
Notes to Editors:
- Follow us on twitter: @visitscotnews
- VisitScotland is Scotland’s national tourism organisation. Its core purpose is to maximise the economic benefit of tourism to Scotland.
- The organisation has three key roles:
- To market Scotland to all parts of the world to attract visitors
- To provide information – and inspiration – to visitors and potential visitors so they get the best out of a visit to Scotland
- To provide quality assurance to visitors and quality advice to the industry and partners to help the industry meet and strive to exceed customer expectations
- VisitScotland works together with tourism businesses to make tourism a success for everyone and ensure the industry continues to grow.
- The organisation employs 700 people and has offices and VisitScotland Information Centres across Scotland.
- 2014 is the year Scotland welcomes the world, when it hosts the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, the Ryder Cup at Gleneagles and more than 800 Homecoming events throughout the country.For more information on Homecoming Scotland 2014, go to www.visitscotland.com
- The VisitScotland Information Centre network is a unique face-to-face channel engaging with around five million visitors and locals each year. Everyone who uses a VisitScotland Information Centre goes on to spend an additional £5.35, generating over £24 million for Scotland’s economy.
- According to a recent Deloitte study, tourism employs 270,000 people in Scotland in 20,000 diverse businesses. The same study calculates that the industry contributes £11 billion annually (direct and indirect impact, including day visits) and supports around 10 per cent of employment in Scotland. Almost 16 million tourists take overnight trips to Scotland.
- Where possible, a Gaelic speaker will be made available for broadcast interviews on request (Far an tèid iarraidh, agus far am bheil sin nar comas, bruidhinnidh neach le Gàidhlig aig agallamh)
- For holiday information on Scotland go to www.visitscotland.com
- For information about business tourism in Scotland go to www.conventionscotland.com
- For more information on VisitScotland’s annual review please go to www.visitscotland.org/about_us/our_focus/annual_report.aspx
