Press release -
Burns Baby Burns
25 January is known worldwide as Burns Night, the birthday of Scotland’s bard Robert Burns. Now music fans can get into the celebrations with a special Burns inspired playlist, launching on all streaming platforms.
Warner Music Group (WMG) has teamed up with VisitScotland to launch a playlist celebrating Scottish music as the perfect soundtrack to any Burns Night party, offering a modern twist on a traditional celebration.
The new playlist, initially titled VisitScotland Presents: Burns Night Party, will be made available from Tuesday 23, January and will feature tracks from artists such as Biffy Clyro, Frightened Rabbit, Paolo Nutini, The Jesus and Mary Chain, The Proclaimers, and Ultravox. It will be regularly updated to ensure that it remains an unrivalled go-to destination for fans of Scottish music.
The playlist is designed to bring together some of the greatest hits ever recorded by Scottish artists, as well as deeper catalogue cuts to appeal to all tastes in music.
Tim Fraser-Harding, President, Global Catalogue, Recorded Music, WMG, says:
“I’m delighted that we’re working with VisitScotland to present the definitive Scottish playlist ahead of this year’s Burns Night celebrations. Scotland has always punched above its weight when it comes to producing amazing artists and magical music.”
Malcolm Roughead, VisitScotland Chief Executive, said:
“The words of Robert Burns have touched the hearts and minds of people the world over and Burns Night continues to be a global celebration of Scottish culture. We’re delighted to be working with Warner Music on this exciting playlist which captures many of the traits associated with our national Bard - creativity, pride and confidence, blending modern Scotland with our traditional heritage. So whether you are hosting your own Burns Supper or attending many of the fantastic events taking place all over the world – this playlist is the perfect accompaniment to any Burns festivities.”
Celebrated annually on Robert Burns’ birthday, 25 January, Burns Night gathers Scots and Scots-at-heart around the world to pay tribute to the great poet’s life and works. The holiday is marked by a jam-packed programme of festivities across the country.
Burns Night Celebrations and Suppers
Red, Red Rose Street Festival
25 - 27January 2018
Various Venues, Edinburgh
Red, Red Rose Street Festival returns to the city centre in January 2018 with an even bigger and better programme of events. Focused around Rose Street, the Burns celebrations will include a Burns Supper, two family ceilidhs, The Burns Comedy Club, Captivate Theatre’s musical of the life of Rabbie and animations and activities along the street over three days. Free workshops for all ages include instruction in Scottish Dancing, Burns Poetry and Making Speeches - just in time for the Burns festivities.
Price: Various
Big Burns Supper
18 – 28 January 2018
Various Venues, Dumfries and Galloway
Big Burns Supper is Scotland’s landmark Burns Night event which takes place in Dumfries and features a heady mixture of cabaret, comedy, music and entertainment in over 30 different venues as the town goes bonkers for 11 days of winter magic.
Price: From £10.00
Café Ceilidh: Burns Celebration
23 January 2018
Scottish Storytelling Centre, Edinburgh
Join the Scots Music Group for an afternoon session of traditional songs, music, poems and stories celebrating Scotland's national poet Robert Burns. Held in the relaxed setting of the Storytelling Court.
Price: Free
Big Burns Stramash
25 – 27 January
Eden Court, Inverness
The Big Burns Stramash 2018 is all about young people; comprising of a variety of different events to suit those from toddlers to those who are very nearly grown-ups. This will get the national Year of Young People off to a bang in the Highlands
Price: From £10.00
Burns Alicht
27 January 2018
Burns Cottage, Ayrshire
The Robert Burns Museum will be open throughout the night for ticket holders to come and go anytime between 6pm and 11pm. There will be a programme of entertainment, food and drink on sale. The Robertson's Room Bar will be open and there will be children's crafts on offer. Tours start at Burns Cottage and this special evening concludes with a finale burning of John Barleycorn to the sound of tribal drums. To celebrate Scotland's Year of Young People a limited number of free tickets are available for this event for people aged 8-26.
Price: £5.00 - £7.00
Burns Night is also the day that whisky with be poured, haggis will be eaten and Burns’ poetry will be recited – for the famous ‘address the haggis’.
The first Burns supper was held in July 1801 when nine of Burns’ close friends got together to mark the fifth anniversary of their friend’s death. Taking place at Burns Cottage in Alloway, the night included a tasty meal (haggis, of course!), performances of Burns’ work and a speech in honour of the great Bard (now known as the Immortal Memory). The night was such a resounding success they decided to hold it again beginning the tradition still enjoyed to this day.
To start – everyone gathers, the host says a few words, everyone sits and the Selkirk Grace is said.
The meal – the starter is served, the haggis is piped in, the host performs Address to a Haggis, everyone toasts the haggis and the main meal is served, followed by dessert.
After the meal – the first Burns recital is performed, the Immortal Memory (the main tribute speech to Burns) is given, the second Burns recital is performed, and then there’s a Toast to the Lassies, followed by a Reply to the Toast to the Lassies, before the final Burns recital is performed.
To end the night – the host gives a vote of thanks, everyone stands and sings Auld Lang Syne, crossing their arms and joining hands at the line ‘And there's a hand, my trusty fere!’.
A LINK TO THE PLAYLIST IS HERE: https://lnk.to/BurnsNight
For more information on Robert Burns and Scotland, go to: www.visitscotland.com/burns
Topics
- Tourism
Categories
- corporate communications
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’s core objective is to contribute to the Tourism 2020 Strategy ambition of growing tourism revenues by £1 billion by 2020.
- This will be supported by five overarching strategies: Marketing, Events, Quality and Sustainability, Inclusive Tourism, International Engagement.
- The organisation employs 700 people and has offices and VisitScotland Information Centres across Scotland.
- Spending by tourists in Scotland generates around £12 billion of economic activity in the wider Scottish supply chain and contributes around £6 billion to Scottish GDP (in basic prices). This represents about 5% of total Scottish GDP
- For VisitScotland’s press releases go to http://www.visitscotland.org/media_centre.aspx, tourism statistics and frequently asked questions go to http://www.visitscotland.org/
- 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
2018 Year of Young People
- The Year of Young People 2018 will be the next of the Scottish Government’s series of themed years, following the Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology 2017.
- The Year of Young People (YoYP 2018) will inspire Scotland through its young people aged 8 to 26, celebrating their achievements, valuing their contributions to communities and creating new opportunities for them to shine locally, nationally and globally
- Central to YoYP 2018 will be a celebratory events programme that puts young people at the heart of its development and delivery, creating new and valuable experiences for young Scots and the wider public, with links to the inaugural 2018 European Championships.
- Over 200 young people throughout Scotland are currently being recruited to become YoYP 2018 Ambassadors. Ambassadors will ensure that people and organisations in their communities know about what’s happening and will lead on projects and activities to create events and opportunities to celebrate young people.
- The Year of Young People will have six themes which were developed in co-production with young people themselves:
- oParticipation – looking at how young people can influence public services and decisions which affect their lives
- oEducation – creating a stronger role for young people in shaping their learning
- oHealth and Wellbeing – supporting young people to lead healthier, active lives and have opportunities to learn about and improve their mental health and resilience
- oEquality and Discrimination – broadcasting the value of young Scots, challenging negative perceptions of young people, and supporting young people to take leading roles in challenging discrimination in all its forms.
- oEnterprise and regeneration – celebrating young people’s role in innovation, entrepreneurship and the Scottish economy as well as making Scotland a greener and more pleasant place to live
- oCulture – celebrating young people’s talent and contribution to Scottish culture and arts.
- Further information on what’s happening and how people can get involved can be found on the new website www.yoyp2018.scot or @YOYP2018 on Twitter.
