Venues add atmosphere to

Venues add atmosphere to

music festival

PERTHSHIRE Amber Festival, the annual folk music festival founded by Dougie MacLean, has announced details of its 2014 line-up.

An array of musicians will perform at atmospheric venues for this 10th-anniversary event - part of Homecoming 2014 - which runs from October 24 to November 2.

Eddi Reader plays Blair Castle on October 27, fiddler Duncan Chisholm is at Dunkeld Cathedral (30) and rising singer-songwriter Rachel Sermanni opens the festival at Fornab Castle in Pitlochry (24). MacLean himself will perform with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra in Perth Concert Hall (31).

The programme also features home-grown talent such Emily Smith, Tom Spiers and the Mischa McPherson Trio, as well as a selection of international musicians including The Paperboys from Vancouver, Eliza Lynn from Nashville and Buddy MacDonald from Cape Breton. One new development is a Heritage Day planned for the first Saturday of the festival in Dunkeld, which will celebrate the history and culture of the area and will include a themed decorated wheelbarrow procession through Dunkeld, historical re-enactments, food and drink, traditional children's games, storytelling and live music.

Tickets go on sale tomorrow at 4pm on the festival's website and from the box office on 01350 724261.

l www.perthshireamber.com

Legends face stage interview

EDINBURGH International Film Festival has announced a new strand to this year's festival, which runs from June 18 to 29, in conjunction with Empire magazine. Hero Hangouts will see a variety of legendary names from the world of film interviewed live on stage, with highlights of the sessions broadcast online at www.empireonline.com.l www.edfilmfest.org.uk