Line-Up

3 Oct - Artie's Singing Kettle

5-9 Oct Coffee & Snacks at the Mill

8 Oct - Dekoy - Foot tapping nostalgia

8 Oct - Folk Concert: North Sea Gas

9 Oct - Farmers' Market

9 Oct - Gala Concert: Andrew McTaggart and Jessica Leary

10 Oct - Festival Praise

10 Oct - Jazz Party

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Magical Moments from the Musicals

Balerno Parish Church 7:30 - 9:30 Donations Welcome

Debbie McConnell has been involved with musical theatre and all forms of dance for her entire life, starting ballet at the tender age of two with her parents, who ran the Academy of Ballet in Lauriston Gardens, Edinburgh! This year, Debbie, her lovely daughter, Marcie Robertson, and a few very talented friends from Balerno Theatre Company will be singing an assortment of songs from the musicals, both old and new, with perhaps a few surprise songs from out with musical theatre! You'll have to come along to see for yourselves!!! You are promised a wonderful and reminiscent evening!

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Family Event - Learn to Play the Taiko Drums

St Joseph's Hall: 2:00-3:00 AND 3:15-4:15

£10 per adult, £7 per under 17, £25 per Family (2 adults / 2 under 17).

Children must be accompanied by an adult

Taiko Drumming is back after a very popular first at the Balerno Music Festival pre-Covid. Come and explore the limitless possibilities of the Taiko Drum. Taiko drumming is a thrilling combination of rhythm, movement & energy. It's lots of fun to play, lots of noise, good exercise, and it helps develop coordination & internal rhythm. All workshops are taught by highly experienced instructors from the Mugen Taiko Dojo.
Suitable for anyone who hasn't played Taiko or any kind of percussion before, the workshop will take you step by step through the basics, from the stance to the bachi drumstick grip, to fundamental rhythms, to using "ki energy" whilst playing. https://www.taiko.co.uk/

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Lost Words - a children's workshop

St Joseph's Hall 2:00-2:45 and 3:00-3:45

£3 per child, children must be accompanied by an adult

Calling all nature lovers! If you like art, crafts, music, poems and generally being creative then this workshop is for you!

Using a beautiful book called 'The Lost Words' as well as the lovely surroundings of Balerno for inspiration, we will create pictures, poems, crafts, and music all with the theme of nature - from wildflowers to native birds and trees. We'll be painting, sticking, chatting, thinking, writing, singing, shaking maracas and having fun! Aimed at primary age children but can be adapted for all ages. Come and join us!

"Once upon a time, words began to vanish from the language of children. They disappeared so quietly that at first almost no one noticed - until one day, they were gone. But there is an old kind of magic for finding what is missing, and for summoning what has vanished. If the right spells are spoken, the lost words might return" - The Lost Words by Robert Macfarlane and Jackie Morris.

Two sessions are planned, so choose the one that best suits your schedule.

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Artie's Singing Kettle

Balerno Bowling Club 2:30 - 4:00

Free for children, £3 per Adult.

Children must be accompanied by an adult and must have a child's ticket.

The Singing Kettle’s creator is back in Balerno with his highly acclaimed one man show for children. Action-packed, enthralling and hugely interactive, he packs Singing Kettle favourites and new songs into a fast-moving performance. Expect to join-in with “Little Bunny Fou Fou”, “The Train to Glasgow” and “The Eelly Alley O” all delivered in a unique, charming, and much imitated style. The original Singing Kettles are back too, boiling over with clues to the best bunch of kids’ songs anywhere.
A huge festival hit on his previous visits to Balerno. Don’t miss it, bring Granny too!
“Artie has proved he’s still got the magic touch….he can keep an audience enthralled”
(Daily Record)

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Coffee & Snacks at the Mill

5th - 9th October St Joseph's Hall 9:00 - 2:00

The Mill @ St Joseph’s is the ideal place to meet up with friends and family for a light lunch or a coffee.

Folk Concert: North Sea Gas

Balerno Bowling Club 8:00 - 11:00 £12 per adult

Folk Concert: North Sea Gas
North Sea Gas are Dave Gilfillan, Grant Simpson and Ronnie MacDonald. Over thirty-nine years and stronger than ever! “North Sea Gas” is one of Scotland’s most popular folk bands with great vocals and tremendous three-part harmonies. Guitars, Mandolin, Fiddle, Bouzouki, Harmonica, Whistles, Bodhrans, Banjo and good humour are all part of the entertainment.
They have received Gold and Silver Disc awards from the Scottish Music Industry Association and regularly have sold out shows at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and around the world!
They have released 22 albums with “Hearth & Homeland” being the most recent and are constantly adding new material to their shows. As with their albums, their shows consist of traditional, contemporary, and self-penned material put together, in a style all their own, along with humour and storytelling. They regularly tour America, Canada, Germany, Austria, Estonia, Turkey, as well as their homeland of Scotland.
Put simply, “North Sea Gas” are a highly entertaining Scottish folk band who have an ever-growing fan base ranging through all age groups thus giving the “Gas” shows a wonderful atmosphere and universal appeal.

Supported by Kenny Speirs
Kenny Speirs has been a well-known figure on the national and international folk circuit for over 25 years since the John Wright Band burst onto the scene in the early 90s. From his homeland in the Scottish Borders, the JWB propelled Kenny from his local pubs and clubs to some of the biggest festival stages throughout the UK and Europe.
Turning professional in 1995, Kenny released 7 albums with the JWB, earning a deserved reputation as a sensitive guitarist, singer and arranger, and also released two solo albums to wide critical acclaim.
In 2001 Kenny formed Real Time with his partner Judy Dinning. For 12 years they toured extensively throughout the U.K. and Europe until Judy’s untimely death in 2013.
The band continued without her until 2019, by which time Kenny had decided to concentrate on writing his own material and pursue a solo career. His two self-penned albums “Sleepwalking” (2017) and “New Dawn Breaking” (2020) have now moved Kenny centre stage as a highly acclaimed singer/songwriter

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DEKOY - Foot tapping nostalgia

St Joseph's Hall 12:30-1:30 Free

“DEKOY”, a quartet of vocals, rhythm and lead guitar, bass and drums will guarantee you a foot tapping hour with classic hits from the 60’s. Come and hear songs by the Searchers, Beatles, Drifters, Chuck Berry, Buddy Holly, the Crickets and many more.
If you remember dial up phones, Angel Delight, Ford Prefects and doing the hand jive, then be there or be square!

Farmer's Market

Balerno Main Street 9:00-1:00

The Main Street village shop opens on this, the second Saturday of the month with a wonderful selection of Scottish produce from local business. We have meat, fish, bread, cheese, vegetables, eggs, pies and pastries, jams, chutneys, chocolate and sweet treats, plants, candles, hot food and drinks, great ideas for your garden, gifts and pets. We look forward to welcoming you.

Gala Concert - Andrew McTaggart and Jessica Leary

Balerno Parish Church 7:30-19:30 £12 Adult, £7 Child

Andrew McTaggart and Jessica Leary will return to Balerno Music Festival for an evening of musical treats. Accompanied by Andrew Forbes they will be visiting the music of opera, stage and screen and song. The programme will be sure to have something in it for everyone and just the remedy for those who love singing and have missed it this last year.
Anyone who has been to both Andrew and Jessica’s concerts in Balerno knows that this is an evening not to be missed. You are guaranteed to be entertained and impressed.

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Festival Praise

Balerno Parish Church 10:30-11:15

The Festival Praise Service, with the Balerno Folk Club and others, celebrates music in our lives and the Church. Everybody welcome

Jazz Party with Stirling Crisis

St Joseph's Hall 7:30-10:00 £12 per person

The Jazz Party once again provides the finale for the Festival and the entertainment will again be provided by Stirling Crisis. This band was formed over 10 years ago when a group of medical friends gathered in Stirling to play jazz. The band currently comprises two ophthalmologists, a pathologist, an occupational therapist and an ex-nurse/ambulance driver - indicating that there is still a strong medical link. Roger Cull was a key member of the band providing musical direction, inspiration and pinning down the rhythm section. He was particularly keen that the Jazz Party continues to thrive. To honour his wishes and legacy the members of Stirling Crisis are delighted to be able to return to Balerno and will be introducing a guest pianist for the evening. Currently Angus Scott (saxophones) and a familiar face at Balerno events, Bruce Michie, on brass and saxophones provide the front-line antics. David Huggan on bass with Alex McClure on drums provide rhythm section support and also further soloing skills. Balerno audiences may well have heard David playing with Roger in the Borders Big Band. On vocals Jenne McClure is a familiar face and voice in Balerno, and just happens to be married to drummer Alex. The band's repertoire is eclectic including mainstream jazz, Latin jazz, ballads and jazz rock numbers. There will be some new material to listen to in addition to the tried and tested favourites.

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