After a successful visit to the Burgh Hall last year, the hilarious Gary Faulds returns to Dunoon with New Material. “Come and join me at my favourite smaller venues, getting material together for the main tour. This is a unique gig trying untested and raw material. You won’t know any different unless a bit dies on its hole, you will know when that happens because I will bin it and go full terror mode on the front row. I am grateful for your support and can’t wait to see you all!”

Discover the unparalleled charm and comedy of Bruce Fummey, where humour meets Scottish history and insightful storytelling. Bruce, the comedian behind the 230k subscriber YouTube channel Scotland History Tours, returns home to Perth with a new show packed with laughs as he explains how Scotland Made the World in his own inimitable style. His unique approach showcases and celebrates Scottish culture and history in a way that will not only keep you fully engaged, but have you roaring with laughter. Every Saturday morning UK-time, Bruce posts a story from Scotland’s history on his hugely successful YouTube channel. This live show will deliver more jokes than you get from the videos, and some might even make you blush, but you’ll leave having learned about Scotland’s role in the world while laughing along the way. Nominated for comedy awards in Australia, at home in Scotland and even named Scottish Comedian Of The Year, Bruce has appeared on ABC series Stuff The British Stole and many UK TV and radio shows.

Enjoy a relaxed Saturday with creative individuals getting hands on learning some simple silversmithing techniques. In this 2.5 hour course you’ll learn how to create your own beautiful open cuff bangle or wrap ring in sterling silver with a gorgeous hammered surface texture. Make this statement design, personalised by the hammered textures you create, and finish it in your choice of polished or oxidised metal. This workshop is focussed towards adults (18+) but teenagers (13+) can attend if accompanied by a participating adult. All tools, materials, tuition and cake will be provided! Please note this workshop is being run by Iona Lundie Design with the Burgh Hall being the venue. You can find out more about Iona and her work at ionalundiedesign.

Told through photography and in the participants’ own words, FONDS is a project about how the evocative objects we keep connect us to the people and places we love. In collaboration with Greater Govanhill community magazine, people who have a connection to the neighbourhood were asked to share an object that means something to them. From Pakistan to Syria, Turkey to Rwanda the objects featured represent stories of migration, transformation, love, and resilience. FONDS was created in 2022 by Morwenna Kearsley, who worked on this project during a two-year community-based residency with Street Level Photoworks as part of their Culture Collective programme. It was developed in partnership with Greater Govanhill community magazine and Thriving Govanhill. FONDS, a term borrowed from archival science denoting a group of objects with a shared origin, delves into the rich tapestry of Govanhill by exploring the personal narratives behind objects that hold deep sentimental value. In 2023, in addition to a new series of photographs, the FONDS podcast series was introduced, produced by Flora Zajicek. Each episode unfolds over 8 minutes, the time it takes to photograph the object in complete darkness. Weaving together the threads of personal history, cultural heritage, and community spirit, this 10 part series will bring you into the studio to sit and listen to the story of each object as told by its keeper. About the photographer: Morwenna Kearsley is a Glasgow-based artist working predominantly with photography, text and moving-image. Her practice is shaped by two main areas of activity: studio-based solo work and workshop-centred participatory projects, which overlap and inform each other. Her photographs often feature objects, which have the potential to reveal part of who we are. From museum artefacts and personal effects to discarded scraps, toys and textiles, objects carry within them the historical, social and political circumstances of their making, as do photographs. About the podcast producer: Flora Zajicek is a documentary audio producer based in Glasgow. She works across arts, facilitation and education to platform stories which otherwise go unheard. She is proud to have worked alongside photographer Morwenna Kearsely and filmmaker Sam Gonçalves to produce this series which pulls the listener deep into the memories of extraordinary, ordinary people. All sound design and music has been created by Flora bespoke for every episode to try and do justice to the generous sincerity that all participants entered into this project with. About Street Level Photoworks: Street Level Photoworks is a photography centre in Glasgow which has a year round programme of exhibitions and engagement activities in its home venue in Trongate 103 and through a network of local, regional and international partnerships. It develops and delivers a diverse programme of community collaborations which recently has included various participatory arts projects in Govanhill and the Gorbals shaped by local people through the national Culture Collective programme. Street Level manage the Photography Networks in Scotland platform and is a member of Scotland’s Workshops, a network of artists production centres in Scotland. Entry to our exhibitions is free but it does cost us money to bring them to Dunoon Hall. We would appreciate any donations to help us keep providing our exhibition program in the future.

Join us for the opening of our latest small gallery exhibition to mark the 150th anniversary of the birth of Pipe Major John McLellan. Pipe Major John McLellan DCM of Dunoon is also known as ‘John McLellan Dunoon’ and he is one of Scotland’s Great Pipe Music composers who during his life composed more than 170 tunes and songs. His most popular tunes include Lochanside, The Bloody Fields of Flanders, South Hall, Cowal Gathering and The Taking of Beaumont Hamel to name a few. We’re delighted that this opening event / launch will feature a playlet by Julie Forrester and the Dunoon Players, titled John McLellan at the Pearly Gates. Entry to our exhibitions is free but it does cost us money to bring them to Dunoon Hall. We would appreciate any donations to help us keep providing our exhibition program in the future.

For Davy Brown there has never been any doubt about the path his life would take: to paint and to share his skill with others. Davy was born in Kilmarnock in 1950 and studied at Glasgow School of Art from 1968 – 1972. The following year he qualified as an Art Teacher from Moray House in Edinburgh before winning a scholarship to travel and teach art in America, Canada and Iceland. His career began officially at the age of 21 when he held his first solo exhibition at the Citizen’s Theatre in Glasgow. After being in promoted posts in Grange Academy, Kilmarnock and Ravenspark Academy, Irvine he moved to Newton Stewart in Dumfries and Galloway and from 1989 – 2002, Davy was Principal Teacher of Art at Douglas-Ewart High School, during which time he continued to exhibit in one-man shows throughout the UK. In I997, he was elected on to the National Assessment Panel for Art and Design, and served for seven years. The same year he was appointed to the post of Lead Teacher in Art and Design for Dumfries and Galloway. For twenty-five years he worked in various capacities with The Scottish Examination Board and The Scottish Qualifications Authority, the final three years working as a Standardiser for the Advanced Higher examination. In 2002 he retired from teaching to become a full-time painter. Davy was President of the Dumfries and Galloway Fine Art Society from 2017 – 2020. Davy’s paintings can be seen in public collections nationwide: the Gracefield Arts Centre, Dumfries; The British Linen Bank; The University of Leicester; The University of York; the Dick Institute, Kilmarnock; Dumfries Royal Infirmary and The Royal Cumberland Hospital, Carlisle. In England he is represented by the following: Red Rag Gallery, Stow on the Wold; Jo Bennett Original Pictures, Manchester; Walker Gallery, Harrogate. Well-known figures such as David Suchet, Penelope Keith, J.K. Rowling, Robert Carlyle, Clare Balding and Jim Wallace are all in possession of his work. There will be work in this exhibition available to purchase. Entry to our exhibitions is free but it does cost us money to bring them to Dunoon Hall. We would appreciate any donations to help us keep providing our exhibition program in the future.

Pipe Major John McLellan DCM of Dunoon is also known as ‘John McLellan Dunoon’ and he is one of Scotland’s Great Pipe Music composers who during his life composed more than 170 tunes and songs. His most popular tunes include Lochanside, The Bloody Fields of Flanders, South Hall, Cowal Gathering and The Taking of Beaumont Hamel to name a few. John was also a multi – talented individual who could play a number of musical instruments well, including the fiddle, penny whistle, piano and of course the great highland bagpipe. When he was just 15 or 16 years old, he composed a lovely melody which he dedicated to his mother it was called ‘The Bens of Jura’. He joined the British army as a piper and his tune quickly became a favourite marching tune with his comrades in arms and was retitled a few times depending on where John was stationed. Today, that tune is known as ‘The Road to the Isles’ though to John he always called it ‘The Bens of Jura’. In 1899, John and his regiment (the Highland Light Infantry) were sent to South Africa at the start of the Anglo Boer War, and it’s here in 1900 that he was commended the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM) for bravery on the battlefield. He later composed the memorable retreat march titled ‘The Highland Brigade of Magersfontein’ to commemorate one of the first battles during the war, his tune remains popular to this day. After returning to civilian life in 1903, he continued composing tunes, many of which would appear in the first ‘Collection of Modern Highland Bagpipe Music’ tunebook and he also entered the prestigious Burgh Cup Piping Competition at the Cowal Highland Gathering which he won in 1904 and 1905. When WW2 broke out in 1914, John was a member of the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders Territorial Army Unit in Dunoon, and they were mobilized and sent abroad to fight in France. In 1919 he was appointed as Pipe Major of the 8th Argylls Pipes and Drums, a position he relished until his retirement in 1930. On a music note, the melody John dedicated to his mother became ‘The Road to the Isles’ in 1917, and in 1926 Sir Harry Lauder MBE released his version of the song which was a major hit in the UK and abroad. Entry to our exhibitions is free but it does cost us money to bring them to Dunoon Hall. We would appreciate any donations to help us keep providing our exhibition program in the future.

An exhibition of work from Cowal Open Studios – a collective of 57 artists. Image by Gabor Horvath. Entry to our exhibitions is free but it does cost us money to bring them to Dunoon Hall. We would appreciate any donations to help us keep providing our exhibition program in the future.

Vulva Voce is a genre-defying string quartet known for performing music by women and underrepresented artists, blending classical, folk, jazz, and techno influences. They have been recognized by The Recording Academy, BBC Radio 3, and Clash Magazine. Their debut EP, Maddalena, is inspired by the 16th-century composer Maddalena Casulana They have also collaborated with Grammy winners and Glastonbury headliners.

Do you want to develop your confidence and leadership skills? Master Collette is an ex-Vice President of Nike and is an International Health Coach and Suntao energy master. She brought the first mindset event into Nike World HQ before returning home to Scotland, and has been teaching at the Burgh Hall since August 2024. This new evening class is a more advanced option that integrates leadership insight and Qi Gong principles, Join Collette on Tuesdays from 22nd July between 6.15pm and 7.15pm in our Main Hall. Collette has kindly asked that session proceeds are made as a donation to Dunoon Burgh Hall – you can book online or pay at the cafe on arrival.