Latest news with #TheBigSingalong
Scotsman
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Dougie MacLean set to open Edinburgh International Festival with free singalong
Scottish music legend Dougie MacLean is set to open Edinburgh International Festival kicking off a free singalong in the city centre. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The Scottish capital is calling MacLean, who will headline The Big Singalong in Princes Street Gardens on August 3rd joined by a range of community choirs led by choir director Stephen Deazley. The iconic Scottish singer will sing his most beloved song, Caledonia, and the event encourages crowds to come and singalong with him. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Dougie Maclean will lead a free singalong in Edinburgh | PA For the opening weekend of the International Festival, Scottish national treasure Dougie MacLean headlines free event The Big Singalong with iconic song Caledonia, joined by a range of community choirs led by choir director Stephen Deazley. The range of choirs include The Phoenix Choir, the Maryhill Integration Project Joyous Choir and the Westerton Male Voice Choir. While the event is free, it is still ticketed. Tickets go on sale on June 19.
Edinburgh Reporter
19-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Edinburgh Reporter
The Big Singalong with Dougie MacLean to lead this year's Edinburgh International Festival
Dougie MacLean will lead the singing at the opening weekend of this year's Edinburgh International Festival with The Big Singalong featuring his best known song Caledonia singing with a group of community choirs. Donald Shaw will lead The Ceilidh Sessions for an afternoon of music and dance – and Festival Director Nicola Benedetti will be joined by jazz pianist Joe Webb to lead improvisational music sessions with young musicians. The free outdoor event will get everyone singing at the very start of the festival in Princes Street Gardens. The Perthshire singer-songwriter is the epitome of everything Scottish and is the composer of the Scottish anthem, Caledonia. The mass singalong that welcomes all voices, curated by Edinburgh's Love Music Community Choir Artistic Director, Stephen Deazley. Choirs include The Phoenix Choir, the Maryhill Integration Project Joyous Choir and the Westerton Male Voice Choir. Tickets are free and available at midday at Dougie MacLean – PHOTO Rob McDougall On the following day The Ceilidh Sessions in Princes Street Gardens will combine Scottish tradition with Baroque flair. Norwegian folk ensemble Barokksolistene join forces with Donald Shaw, known as founding member of Scottish folk legends Capercaillie, accompanied by his ceilidh band. Alongside well-known ceilidh tunes such as the 'The Gay Gordons' and 'Strip the Willow Barokksolistene add Baroque music, sea shanties and alehouse tunes to the mix for a truly international afternoon of music and dance. Nicola Benedetti, Festival Director, Edinburgh International Festival said: 'At the heart of our Festival is a commitment to connection – providing a closer communion between artist and audience. From our mass ceilidh dancing, to singing Dougie MacLean's iconic anthem 'Caledonia' at the top of our lungs in the Princes Street Gardens, to spontaneous jam sessions for jazz lovers and classical enthusiasts alike, these events invite everyone to take part in the magic of live performance. We are all about celebrating artistry in its most human, communal form, and I can't wait for everyone to experience it with us in August.' Stephen Deazley, Artistic Director of The Big Singalong, said: 'Caledonia has become more than just a song—it's a reflection of Scotland's spirit. Nearly 50 years on, it still speaks powerfully about what it means to find home, especially for those who are new to Scotland or have journeyed far. Singing it together in Princes Street Gardens this August for the International Festival opening weekend isn't just about music; it's about connection. It's a way for people to feel they belong, to share in something bigger. When thousands of voices come together, you feel that sense of welcome, of joy, of community—and that's what Scotland is all about.' Rob Dickson, Director of Industry and Events at VisitScotland, said: 'The Edinburgh International Festival is one of Scotland's signature events, and we're proud to support The Big Singalong and The Ceilidh Sessions as part of the festival's opening weekend. These events not only celebrate our rich musical heritage—with icons like Dougie MacLean and Donald Shaw—but also play a vital role in growing the value of Scotland's visitor economy. Free, inclusive events like these are essential in ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to experience the joy and connection that live events bring. Together with our enviable portfolio of cultural and sporting events, the Edinburgh International Festival reinforces Scotland's global reputation as a world-class destination for tourism and events.' Tickets to all performances at the 2025 Edinburgh International Festival are available at EIF Opening Fanfare Day © Mihaela Bodlovic Ceilidh Sessions PHOTO Andrew Perry Like this: Like Related
Scotsman
19-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Dougie MacLean to lead Edinburgh International Festival opening weekend with Caledonia singalong
Dougie MacLean will perform Caledonia alongside community choirs and members of the public Sign up to our Arts and Culture newsletter, get the latest news and reviews from our specialist arts writers Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... He is one of Scotland's most beloved singer-songwriters, with a trademark song which gets tear ducts flowing in even the most hard-hearted Scot. Now Dougie MacLean is to lead a mass, outdoor group singalong with his song Caledonia as part of a concert held on the opening weekend of the Edinburgh International Festival. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Free event The Big Singalong, held in Princes Street Gardens, will see members of the public join Mr MacLean in the song, joined by a range of community choirs. Caledonia will be followed by a set list curated by Edinburgh's Love Music Community Choir artistic director, Stephen Deazley. Meanwhile, celebrated folk musician Donald Shaw will lead the EIF's Ceilidh Sessions with traditional Gaelic music and dance, and festival director Nicola Benedetti and jazz pianist Joe Webb leading improvisational sessions featuring emerging young talent. Stephen Deazley, artistic director of The Big Singalong, said: 'Caledonia has become more than just a song—it's a reflection of Scotland's spirit. Nearly 50 years on, it still speaks powerfully about what it means to find home, especially for those who are new to Scotland or have journeyed far. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Singing it together in Princes Street Gardens this August for the International Festival opening weekend isn't just about music; it's about connection. It's a way for people to feel they belong, to share in something bigger. When thousands of voices come together, you feel that sense of welcome, of joy, of community—and that's what Scotland is all about.' Dougie MacLean will lead a rendition of Caledonia | EIF Also in Princes Street Gardens, The Ceilidh Sessions will see Norwegian folk ensemble Barokksolistene join forces with Donald Shaw, known as founding member of Scottish folk legends Capercaillie, accompanied by his ceilidh band. On Friday, 15 August, at The Hub on the Royal Mile, acclaimed pianist and composer Joe Webb will lead the Up Late Jazz Jam. Meanwhile, renowned violinist Ms Benedetti leads a cohort of the world's most promising young musicians in Rising Stars: Classical Jam. This spontaneous, informal concert brings emerging and professional musicians together for a dynamic, performance where audiences choose the repertoire - inspired by the behind-the-scenes energy of rehearsal rooms and post-concert jams that classical musicians usually enjoy off stage. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Nicola Benedetti, festival director of Edinburgh International Festival said: 'At the heart of our Festival is a commitment to connection – providing a closer communion between artist and audience. 'From our mass ceilidh dancing, to singing Dougie MacLean's iconic anthem 'Caledonia' at the top of our lungs in the Princes Street Gardens, to spontaneous jam sessions for jazz lovers and classical enthusiasts alike, these events invite everyone to take part in the magic of live performance. We are all about celebrating artistry in its most human, communal form, and I can't wait for everyone to experience it with us in August.'
The Herald Scotland
19-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
Dougie MacLean to lead Edinburgh Festival 'mass singalong'
Now he has been lined up to lead a mass 'singalong' event on the opening weekend of Edinburgh's main summer festivals season. Read more: The Perthshire musician will launch a free hour-long celebration of singing in Princes Street Gardens on the opening Sunday afternoon of the festivals season. The Scottish Government is funding the Edinburgh International Festival show, The Big Singalong, one of the few musical events given the green light to go ahead in the gardens this August. Singer-songwriter Dougie MacLean. The event has been put together by Stephen Deazley, the artistic director and founder of the Edinburgh-based community choir Love Music, who worked with singer-songwriter Karine Polwart to stage spectacular massed choir shows St Giles' Cathedral on New Year's Day as part of Edinburgh's Hogmanay festival. MacLean, who appeared at the Tartan Week celebrations in New York earlier this year, first made his name in the 1970s with the bands The Tannahill Weavers and Silly Weavers, and set up a record label with his wife Jennifer to release his own music in 1983. A 'mass singalong' event will be staged at the Edinburgh International Festival in Princes Street Gardens in August. (Image: Iain Masterton/Edinburgh International Festival) MacLean's major honours include an OBE, a lifetime achievement award from the BBC and being inducted into the Scottish Traditional Music Hall of Fame. Mr Deazley said: 'Caledonia has become more than just a song—it's a reflection of Scotland's spirit. 'Nearly 50 years on, it still speaks powerfully about what it means to find home, especially for those who are new to Scotland or have journeyed far. 'Singing it together in Princes Street Gardens this August for the International Festival opening weekend isn't just about music. 'It's about connection. It's a way for people to feel they belong, to share in something bigger. When thousands of voices come together, you feel that sense of welcome, of joy, of community—and that's what Scotland is all about.' Maclean, one of several new additions to the line-up of the festival line-up, will be joined by the Phoenix Choir, the Maryhill Integration Project Joyous Choir and the Westerton Male Voice Choir at the Ross Bandstand in the gardens on August 3. The following day the bandstand will play host to The Ceilidh Sessions, a celebration of music and dance featuring Capercaillie musicians and an all-star ceilidh band appearing alongside the Norwegian folk ensemble Barokksolistene. Festival director Nicola Benedetti is to appear in a 'spontanenous' classical jam session concert, while Welsh jazz pianist will lead an Up Late Jazz Jam event. Ms Benedetti said: 'At the heart of our festival is a commitment to connection – providing a closer communion between artist and audience. 'From our mass ceilidh dancing, to singing Dougie MacLean's iconic anthem 'Caledonia' at the top of our lungs in the Princes Street Gardens, to spontaneous jam sessions for jazz lovers and classical enthusiasts alike, these events invite everyone to take part in the magic of live performance. 'We are all about celebrating artistry in its most human, communal form, and I can't wait for everyone to experience it with us in August.'
