Festival uncovers biggest programme ever staged in Dumfries – including over 200 live events.

Electro-instrumentalists Public Service Broadcasting will play their first ever Spiegeltent show with a unique set that will offer their fans and local audience, a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Bay City Rollers make a triumphant return headlining the newly titled Tartan Sunday Sessions which is a festival-within-a-festival.

They will play alongside Dumfries & Galloway legends ONR and rocket-fuelled Dangleberries as well as a Jamaican dub outfit Jamaica Sings Robert Burns offering festival goers an-all-one ticket to close the festival in a thirteen-hour extravaganza.

Marcel Lucont is added to the brand-new comedy strand alongside a host of acts who will play in venues ranging from Spiegeltent, Theatre Royal and in the festival’s brand-new Container Theatre.

The family programme includes brand new Children’s Theatre, as well as the return of the sell-out Roller Disco, including special sessions just for the under 5’s.

Saxophonist and composer Brian Molley presents his quartet in the Spiegeltent as part of the weekend programme of events which includes Soul Nation Choir and Dougie McLean.

Emily Smith and Robyn Stapleton join a host of local acts broadcast to the world in the festival’s special Burns Night Live show which is beamed from the Spiegeltent across the globe.

A brand new Free Fringe will run from the Festival site each daily, featuring over 100 different acts presented, including a brand-new show case of the region’s school talent, as well as local favourites Ward & Watson, LOKA, Stoney Broke and Scott Maxwell.

The inaugural Dumfries Fringe – the newest part of the festival includes up to 60 shows and events taking place in venues ranging from Gracefield Arts Centre, Robert Burns Film Theatre, Theatre Royal, Coach & Horses, Troqueer Arms, The Stove and many more.

The D-Lux, Festival of Light makes a return with an even bigger programme of installations and events beaming across the winter night sky throughout the festival.

The festival also presents a range of new experiences including a brand-new ballroom dancing masterclass, which will culminate in a big band event, live from the Spiegeltent, and free cooking demonstrations in the festival hub.

Colonel Mustard and the Dijon 5 will raise the roof in their eclectic style as they play a post Le Haggis Late night special on Saturday 27th.

The Festival is also launching its first digital channel via Facebook Live which will feature interviews, features and performances from the Festival.

The additions are added to the existing line-up which includes Bill Bailey, Donovan, Camille O’Sullivan, Badly Drawn Boy, We Banjo 3, Eddi Reader, Dougie Maclean and the Dumfries made, Le Haggis.

Executive Producer, Graham Main said:

“The full line-up makes this our most ambitious festival in our seven years, and we are thrilled to welcome diverse artists to the already jam-packed programme. Our 2018 Festival programme is about experiencing something different by bringing our audience to our festival hub which is reclaiming its rightful position in the centre of Dumfries, at the heart of the amazing venues that help make our programme incredible.”

Chair of the Big Burns Supper board, Karen Clapperton said:

“We are indebted to our local partners, SP Energy Networks, Loreburn Housing, D-Lux, Dumfries & Galloway Council and our local venues, the army of local volunteers who work with us to create the magic that is Big Burns Supper Festival.”

The festival team will move into a new pop up venue on the Whitesands on the 15th November and tickets for all events can be purchased through the festival website www.bigburnssupper.com or by calling 01387 271820

Big Burns Supper Festival is a non-profit event, produced by local charity Electric Theatre Workshop.

Notes to Editors:

For more information or media, please contact Jack Finlay at:
jack@bigburnssupper.com or call him on 01387 271 820 /  7769181837.

About Big Burns Supper

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 nine days of winter magic.

If you are going to check out Dumfries – this is definitely the time to do it, with events including Burns Night Live – which is streamed live to the world. The festival is also the home of Le Haggis, Scotland’s finest five-star cabaret experience.

2018 dates: 18th January ~ 28th January

www.bigburnssupper.com

About ELEKTRONIKA

ELEKTRONIKA (formally Electric Theatre Workshop) is a cultural producer which creates platforms for audience engagement through a diverse range of community arts-based programmes, including Big Burns Supper Festival, Carlisle Fringe Festival, Creative Schools, Dumfries Community Choir, Dumfries Youth Theatre and our award winning participatory programmes that have helping to transform the communities we serve. We believe everyone has the right to experience culture.

www.bigburnssupper.com

Scottish Winter Festival / Burns Night

• Burns, our national bard, is one of Scotland’s favourite icons encapsulating the very essence that makes Scots Scottish – creative, proud and confident.
• Robert Burns, or ‘Rabbie’ as he is affectionately known, was born in Alloway, South Ayrshire, in 1759. He began writing poetry and songs at an early age and became famous across Scotland for his writings.
• After his death at the age of just 37, Rabbie’s works became internationally renowned and to this day, people from all corners of the world sing ‘Auld Lang Syne’ to bring in the New Year.
• Every year on Burns’ birthday, 25 January, Scots and Scots at heart from across the globe celebrate his life and cultural legacy by hosting a Burns Supper. The traditional components include addressing the haggis, toasting the lassies and reciting the Selkirk Grace, however there are often many modern variations and twists on these traditions.
• Learn how to hold your own Burns Supper as well as the meaning behind some of the most beloved words and phrases and more about the life of the Bard himself by visiting scotland.org/burns
• The Scotland’s Winter Festivals event fund is managed by EventScotland

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