From the Jam features Bruce Foxton from the original Jam line up. He also spent 15 years playing bass with Stiff Little Fingers. Bruce is joined by Russell Hastings on lead vocal and guitar. From The Jam have gained a reputation for the kind of incendiary ‘live’ performances that sealed the reputation of The Jam all those years ago. Audiences can expect to hear classic The Jam hits such as Down In The Tube Station At Midnight, Going Underground, Town Called Malice and The Modern World as well as some live favourites and songs from Bruce’s solo career.

The Beat formed in 1979 and released their debut single, an infectious cover of the Smokey Robinson classic Tears of A Clown on 2-Tone Records which went straight into the UK national charts at #6. Along with their contemporaries The Specials, Madness and The Selecter, The Beat became an overnight sensation. Bow Wow Wow were created by Sex Pistols manager Malcolm McLaren in 1980 from members of the Adam and the Ants group along with vocalist Annabella Lwin. Between 1980-1983 Bow Wow Wow had acclaimed singles such as I Want Candy, C-30 C60 C-90 Go, Go Wild In The Country, Fools Rush In, Afrodisiac, Do You Wanna Hold Me, Sexy Eiffel Towers, Louis Quatorze and more.

Catch this chance to see viral sensations The Vintage Explosion. You will be transported back in time for a night of authentic rock n roll, swing and rhythm and blues.

The Selecter is led by their iconic frontwoman Pauline Black and co-fronted by original member Arthur ‘Gaps’ Hendrickson. They are now re-united with original drummer Charley ‘Aitch’ Bainbridge who is back in the line-up. Pauline is one of very few women in the 2-Tone scene - often referred to as "the Queen of Ska" she was awarded an OBE in the in the 2022 New Year Honours. 2-Tone was a crucial multi-racial, multi-cultural explosion borne out of Coventry and the Midlands that remade British pop from 1979 onwards.

Legends of Irish music & song, The Fureys are renowned for their hit songs 'I will love you', 'When you were sweet 16', 'The Green fields of France', 'The old man', 'Red rose café', 'From Clare to here', 'Her father didn't like me anyway', 'Leaving Nancy', 'Steal away' etc The oldest of the brothers, Eddie Furey left home in 1966 and travelled to Scotland at the time of the great folk revival where, with his brother Finbar, he met and shared accommodation with then unknown folk singers Billy Connolly, Gerry Rafferty, Tam Harvey and Alex Campbell. In 1972, Gerry Rafferty wrote 'Her father didn't like me anyway' for Eddie. BBC Radio 1 presenter, the late John Peel made it his single of the year. They are particularly proud of their UK chart success with songs such as I Will Love You and When You Were Sweet Sixteen, which in turn helped bring Irish folk and traditional music to a completely new audience. The band made their Top of the Pops debut in 1981. Eddie Furey recalls how "many musicians have told us we influenced them after hearing a record from their parents or grandparents' collection". Dave Stewart of The Eurythmics has credited Eddie with teaching him his first chords on the guitar while still a teenager. Eddie would return the compliment by joining Dave on stage in Paris for a jam during the latter's wedding to Bananarama's Siobhan Fahey. Their emotive songs stir many emotions, tears and laughter, sadness and joy.

Selling out at venues all over the world, Clearwater Creedence Revival feature road-hardened players who, collectively have performed with – Stax legend Steve Cropper, Big Country, Denny Laine (Wings, Moody Blues), Eric Haydocks Hollies, Animals And Friends, Alan Silson (Smokie), Wayne Fontana’s Mindbenders and more. Together, they are the best celebration of the music of Creedence Clearwater Revival and Fogerty you’re ever likely to see – and a band selling out all over the world, as audiences in Germany, Israel,Russia, Holland, Scandinavia, UK and more will attest! A tribute band like no other.

Eddie Lundon and Gary Daly are the founder members of the band which started in Kirkby, Merseyside back in 1979. China Crisis found major success in the UK with five Top 40 singles, ten Top 50 singles and three Top 40 albums and hits across Australia, Europe and the Americas. The band are known for their string of hit singles, including African & White, Christian, Working with Fire and Steel, Black Man Ray and Wishful Thinking, The RETROspective tour will see the band performing these classics alongside songs from all of their seven studio albums. - Eddie Lundon - Gary Daly - Jack Hymers (keys) - Eric Animan (sax)

Bound together by lifelong friendship and shared experience for more than 25 years, the Fisherman’s Friends have met on the Platt (harbour) in their native Port Isaac to raise money for charity, singing the traditional songs of the sea handed down to them by their forefathers. In 2010 they signed a major record deal and their album Port Isaac’s Fisherman’s Friends went gold as they became the first traditional folk act to land a UK top ten album. Since then they’ve been the subject of an ITV documentary, released the hit albums One and All and Proper Job and played to hundreds of thousands of fans at home and abroad. The Fisherman’s Friends have been widely credited with starting the revival of interest in shanty-style choral singing but a cornerstone of their success has been their constantly evolving and expanding repertoire.

Kenny Thomas was one of the most popular UK soul dance vocalists of the early 1990s. His biggest UK hit came in 1991 with ‘Thinking About Your Love’ (number 4), while his debut album sold more than 600, 000 copies in the UK alone. Other hit singles spawned by that debut included ‘Outstanding’, ‘The Best Of You’ and ‘Tender Love’, and also resulted in a Brit Award nomination for Best British Male Vocalist and Best British Newcomer. The warm, relaxed dance grooves of that debut were replicated on a second album that continued Thomas’ massive commercial success. Guest musicians this time round included the Young Disciples, Nu Colours and the Reggae Philharmonic Orchestra. This time some of the bonhomie of the original set was more restrained, with a slightly more mature lyrical vision reflecting more real-life experiences. Over the years Kenny has retained an extremely loyal following on the Soul/Funk circuit and is often one of the first names ‘considered’ for ‘Soul All dayers’ etc. However, now in 2021 Kenny has recruited a new band and is about to go out live to celebrate the 30th anniversary of his debut album ‘Voices’, that featured the hits Thinking about your love, Outstanding, Tender Love & Best of you In addition to the album Kenny has just released in conjunction with Dr Packer a new version of the seminal Fatback Band classic ‘I found lovin’ – this song has been a staple of Kenny’s live sets for some time and has already landed in several Soul based singles charts across the UK

“They’ve lasted because they are brilliant” Radio 2 Brothers Patrick and Gregory Kane formed Hue and Cry in the ’80s and the duo made a huge impact with the release of their debut album Seduced and Abandoned (1987) which featured their first top ten single Labour of Love. The follow up album Remote continued the trend and produced the huge hits Looking for Linda and Violently. Albums like Stars Crash Down, Showtime and Jazz Not Jazz ensured Hue and Cry’s continued successful run through the ’90s, whilst their 2005 appearances as finalists on ITV’s primetime show Hit Me Baby One More Time, featuring their version of Beyonce’s Crazy In Love, thrust the band firmly back into the mainstream limelight. A number of successful album releases and accompanying live appearances followed which included Open Soul (2008), Xmasday (2009), Bitter Suite Again (2010), Hot Wire (2012), Remote: Major to Minor (2014), September Songs (2015), Pocketful of Stones (2017). To date Hue and Cry have sold in excess of two million records worldwide. In 2019, Hue and Cry sold out their Summer Nights at the Bandstand show at Glasgow’s Kelvingrove park within forty-eight hours and finished the year by playing live all over the UK. With the global pandemic bringing live touring to a halt during 2020/21, Hue and Cry introduced their pioneering Live from Lockdown streaming shows which were broadcast live from the band’s Glasgow based studio and viewed online by thousands of fans around the world. A collection of their favourite tracks from these shows was released as a Best of Lockdown album (2022). Hue and Cry have sold tens of thousands of concert tickets worldwide. As well as performing alongside some of the greatest artists in music history – appearing with U2, James Brown, Madonna, Al Green and Van Morrison to name but a few – the band have undertaken a multitude of their own headline tours and made numerous festival appearances. Hue and Cry were recognised by their peers when they were recently presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Scottish Music Awards. The band are currently working on a brand new album and have made a welcome return to performing in front of audiences.

Nik Kershaw exploded onto the UK pop scene in 1984. A string of global hit singles including Wouldn’t it Be Good, The Riddle and I Won’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me saw him languish for 62 weeks on the UK Singles Chart, making him the UK’s biggest-selling solo artist that year. In 1985, he performed at Live Aid. After stepping out of the limelight to concentrate on writing and producing, Nik wrote Chesney Hawkes’s The One and Only and collaborated with Elton John, Lulu, Petula Clark, The Hollies, Ronan Keating, Jason Donovan, Let Loose, Sia, Imogen Heap, Gary Barlow and Bonnie Tyler. In 1998, Nik returned to performing and has been crafting critically acclaimed albums ever since.

Award-winning indie-folk band from the Highlands of Scotland.

At the forefront of the UK’s world and roots music scene matching fiery intensity with exquisite finesse.

TV favourite Ed Byrne tours his Best Reviewed Show at the Edinburgh Festival, British Comedy Guide's No 1 Comedy show, and his most personal show to date. From the quote attributed to Mark Twain, humour is defined as Tragedy Plus Time. Come and join one of our leading laugh specialists as he tests that formula by mining the most tragic event in his life for laughs. With his TV career now in its third decade, Ed has regularly appeared on the likes of QI, Mock The Week, Alan Davies As Yet Untitled, and Live At The Apollo. With legions of fans both in the UK and abroad, Ed remains the observational stand-up to see.

Following on from the success of 2024’s “Any Port in a Storm” tour, King Creosote’s 2025’s follow-up “Any Storm in a Teacup” promises a night of modular synth, I DES tracks and KC classics.

One of the UK’s most exciting live performers, Nathan Carter's energetic showmanship is proving irresistible for fans, even scoring him a prestigious slot performing for Pope Francis in Croke Park in Dublin, as well as shows in Ireland at the 3Arena Dublin and SSE Arena Belfast. With tracks such as ‘Wagon Wheel’ and ‘I Wanna Dance’ receiving hit status, he is one of Ireland’s biggest artists, and with an incredible 7 top 10 albums under his belt, he is well on his way to becoming a household name.

This is not a musical. Milton Jones is tone deaf and has no sense of rhythm, but at least he doesn’t make a song and dance about it. He has more important things to discuss. Like giraffes... and there’s a bit about tomatoes. You might know him from Mock the Week, Live at the Apollo or Radio 4. Or that time he stood for the Scottish National Party, fought a hard campaign, but in the end had to respect the wishes of the people of Cardiff. A whole new show of daftness. You know it makes sense. Warning - contains jokes from the start.

In celebration of the release of her hilarious memoir of the same name, comedian, novelist and professional show-off Jenny Eclair comes to venues nationwide with a brand-new autobiographical show. From drama school (mostly drinking cider and eating sausage rolls), sleeping with men who looked like they lived under a carpet, punk poetry, anorexia, bedsit misery, waitressing and not really having a clue about anything, to being the first woman to win the Perrier Award, becoming a mother, author, grumpy old woman, podcaster and nana! Still gigging to sell-out crowds forty years later, Jenny invites you to look back at what she can remember before she forgets everything. Warning: punk poetry, animal impressions and baritone nursery rhyme singing may feature.

The Skids formed in 1977 in their home town of Dunfermline, Scotland by Richard Jobson, Stuart Adamson, Bill Simpson & Tom Kellichan. After releasing an independent single the band were played by John Peel, supported The Clash in concert and then were signed to Virgin Records in 1978. Their first singles were ‘Sweet Surburbia’, ‘The Saints are Coming’ and ‘Into the Valley’ - the latter reaching the UK Top Ten in early 1979. Their seminal debut album ‘Scared to Dance’; came out in 1979 and was quickly followed by two chart singles – ‘Masquerade’ and ‘Working for the Yankee Dollar’. Both singles were taken from the Bill Nelson (Be Bop Deluxe) produced second album ‘Days in Europa’. The album also featured new member Rusty Egan of Rich Kids & Visage fame after the departure of Tom Kellichan. The band released two more albums ‘The Absolute Game’ (1980) and ‘Joy’ (1981) before splitting. Stuart Adamson went on to have worldwide success with his new band Big Country. The Skids were at the heart of the punk scene in Scotland and took their music to London where they were signed by Virgin records. They made 4 albums and had numerous hit singles including Into the Valley, The Saints are Coming, Masquerade and Working for the Yankee Dollar. The most recent Skids lineup includes Richard Jobson, Martin Metcalfe and Fin Wilson (Goodbye Mr Mackenzie), Nick Hernandez and Connor Whyte.

Will Young has spent the last two decades at the forefront of pop after bursting onto the scene in 2002 as the original winner of Pop Idol. His expansive career has culminated in four #1 and two #2 chart topping albums, two BRIT Awards, four UK number one singles and hits including ‘Leave Right Now’, ‘Evergreen’ and ‘Jealousy’. An acting career blossomed concurrently, with roles on stage and screen and presenting gigs on TV and radio, including regular cover for Jo Whiley on BBC Radio 2. Will’s most recent album Crying On The Bathroom Floor hit #3 in the UK album chart this year and his new book To Be A Gay Man is available now via Penguin Books.

The '60s group Manfred Mann is now considered, more than ever, one of the finest and most respected bands from that era. Their numerous hits were R&B based with an undercurrent of jazz - a very unusual but winning combination of playing style and substance. As a result, their records have a timeless quality and, some 55 years on, The Manfreds, with original front man, Paul Jones, will be performing many of their hits, including ‘Do Wah Diddy Diddy’, one of the most popular and instantly recognisable songs of the ‘60’s,and still the biggest audience pleaser at their concerts, along with a mix of Jazz and Blues covers and tracks from their individual solo albums. Paul Jones, with his unique harmonica sound, will be joined by Mike Hugg on keyboards, Tom McGuinness on guitar, Rob Townsend on drums, Marcus Cliffe on bass, and Simon Currie on saxophone/ flute.

The dishevelled prince of £10 eBay keyboards tries to make you feel alive with a new pageant of laughter, song and occasionally getting up from a chair. It’s gonna be a big one. Star of 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown, Live at The Apollo, The Great Celebrity Bake Off 2024 and Along For the Ride with David O’Doherty.

The Oxted Sessions is delighted to welcome legendary 70s folk-rock pioneers Lindisfarne. With a classic five-piece line-up of long-time members, fronted by founder-member Rod Clements on vocals, mandolin, fiddle and slide guitar. With a repertoire of unforgettable songs like Meet Me On The Corner, Fog On The Tyne, Lady Eleanor and Run For Home, and a reputation for live performance second-to-none, Lindisfarne’s power to galvanize audiences and get them on their feet remains undimmed.

Francis Dominic Nicholas Michael Rossi, OBE is an English musician. He is the co-founder, lead singer, lead guitarist and the sole continuous member of the rock band Status Quo.

Fairport Convention has been entertaining music lovers for over half a century. During that time the band that launched British folk-rock has seen many changes. But one thing has remained the same - Fairport's passion for performance. The band skilfully interprets traditional ballads and the repertoire also includes plenty of contemporary compositions.

Get ready for a celebration of Alabama 3’s 1997 debut album, Exile On Coldharbour Lane and their sophomore album, La Peste, alongside a selection of greatest hits. It's the 25th anniversary of the hit song "Woke Up This Morning", which served as the iconic theme song for the acclaimed TV show The Sopranos, and the track which features on both records.

Quite simply one of the most successful and popular singers the UK has ever produced. Now in the 5th decade of her career, she is still proving to be one of the most powerful and versatile vocal talents of our generation. With numerous hit singles, million selling albums and awards, her annual tours are treat for fans old and new. Performing some of her classic hits, blues and jazz, an electric evening with Elkie is guaranteed to leave you begging for more. Elkie is a stunning performer and whatever she does, she does it best live. Don’t miss the chance to see a truly great artist in action.

With two specials, three albums, TV appearances, millions of followers and views across all social media platforms, Morgan Jay brings his unique blend of music and comedy to Europe.  He has won awards, travelled America and is responsible for countless people hooking up and making babies.   Do yourself a favour and go see this man sing songs about love, dating, and relationships! Bring your partner or come alone and find someone new.

You might have seen him on Strictly Come Dancing, Scared of the Dark, Would I Lie to You, Have I Got News for You, The Royal Variety, QI, Blankety Blank, The Last Leg, and tons more as well. He's been called an "overnight success" - Even though he's been doing this for bloody yonks! Chris McCausland is hitting the road again with another masterclass in stand-up comedy that has literally been yonks in the making. The last tour was a sell-out, so get your tickets now!

English alternative rock band formed in London by drummer Ed Herten, keyboard player Paul Turrell, and guitarist/vocalist Steve Rodgers.

Bossa Nova = Nouvelle Vague = New Wave. This transliteration was the starting point for Marc Collin and Olivier Libaux’s unique project, which, by appropriating the punk and post-punk cannon and running it through the Bossa Nova filter, reinvented the cover band genre, revealing new and brilliant talents along the way: Camille, Phoebe Killdeer, Nadeah, Mélanie Pain, and Liset Alea. The group’s first two albums, Nouvelle Vague (2004) and Bande A Part (2006) defined their unique sound with Bossa versions of New Wave Classics. Their third album NV3 (2009) featured collaborations with Depeche Mode's Martin Gore, Ian McCullouch from Echo and the Bunnymen, Terry Hall from The Specials, Barry Adamson, The Saints & Minimal Compact.

Oh, it’s all there! All the trademarks are in evidence in Ardal’s latest show. Beautifully crafted stand-up comedy? Yes. Celebrated use of language? Tick. Lateral thinking, surreal flourishes, sharp observations? Of course. As for the occasional profundity? Maybe. Despite his best attempts over many decades to put the world to rights, it is still a colossal mess. And so, Ardal has no choice but to go out on the road again. Like the good comedy doctor he is, he fearlessly diagnoses the various pathologies and neuroses that are currently ravaging humanity. Disclaimer: No solutions provided. After an alarming experience at the supermarket, Ardal reflects on who he is as a man and a comedian. He examines his own ethnic and religious background, and thinks twice about the very core of his identity as a voice of reason. Is everything a big lie? With no major trauma of his own to draw on for material, apart from the drag of getting older, he also turns his gaze outwards at the joys and follies of contemporary life. Towel Animals? A.I.? Chair Yoga? Cauliflower as a main course? Yes. Yes. Yes. And Yes. No current idiocy is left unexamined. With a highly developed sense of the ridiculous, and proper comedy bones, NOT HIMSELF, is a testament to the healing power of humour. And the joy of jokes.

Across The Universe perform The Beatles' studio years with a live band and orchestra. Our team of composers has painstakingly transcribed these legendary arrangements by ear, ensuring the parts are closer to the original recordings than you'll find anywhere else. The show then brings them to the stage with love, energy, and enthusiasm. "The Beatles' equivalent of The Australian Pink Floyd, but with more charisma and warmth." "Stunning. The attention to detail was amazing."

With an undeniable voice and an arsenal of powerful songs, Martha Wainwright is a beguiling performer and a refreshingly different force in music. Martha began building a buzz with her well-noted EPs, prior to her 2005 critically and commercially successful debut LP, Martha Wainwright.

Yes! Britain’s youngest and most relevant podcast-first broadcasters are coming on tour and this time they’re bringing Dave! Expect Made Up Games, Cymru Connections, Mad Dads and three digital firebrands let loose from the shackles of Billy Balance!

Mr P has been a primary school teacher for over twelve years. He still works part-time in school and leads training in schools all over the UK and beyond. From sharing ideas and funny insights into life in the classroom, he has now become one of the most followed teachers on social media in the UK. Three years ago, alongside his younger brother (who also works in a school) he started the award-winning podcast Two Mr Ps in a Podcast. In a year, it has been the number one education podcast and amassed over three million listens. Sharing funny stories from the front line of teaching, this live show will see the Two Mr Ps reminiscing on their own school days and looking at the wonderful and hilarious world of education. Anyone who went to school will enjoy and relate to this brilliant new show.

Lucy Spraggan is a British singer-songwriter known for her unique blend of acoustic pop, folk, and witty lyricism. She first gained widespread attention during her appearance on The X Factor in 2012, where her original song "Last Night (Beer Fear)" captured the hearts of viewers. Although she left the competition early, her performance on the show catapulted her into the spotlight, and her debut album Top Room at the Zoo soon followed, reaching high on the UK charts. Her subsequent albums, including Join the Club (2013) and Choices (2021), further showcased her knack for storytelling, tackling themes of love, life, and personal growth. Lucy Spraggan’s live performances are renowned for their intimate, down-to-earth feel, often filled with a mix of humour and heartfelt emotion. She has toured extensively across the UK, performing at major festivals like Glastonbury and Isle of Wight, as well as headlining her own sold-out shows. Her open discussions about mental health, sobriety, and personal resilience have made her a relatable figure to many fans, and her music continues to inspire with its honest and uplifting messages. Lucy remains a beloved figure in the British music scene, known for her authenticity and charm.

Introducing PorkPie, Scotland's nine piece Ska Behemoth, a music force of nature that have been tearing up stages the length and breadth of the British isles. Combining top quality dance along ska standards with well crafted originals.

Australian singer/songwriter.

Kid Creole and the Coconuts is an American musical group created by August Darnell with Andy Hernandez and Adriana Kaegi. Its music incorporates a variety of styles and influences, in particular a mix of disco and Latin American, Caribbean, and Calloway styles conceptually inspired by the big band era.

Brister has it all: a wife, kids, a house and a job she loves (sometimes) so what the hell is she moaning about? Join Jen as she takes an irreverent look at the often controversial subject of privilege. Who has it? Who doesn't? And why does no one like to admit they have any?

Making her name as a backing singer for indie-rock collective Bombay Bicycle Club, Rose embarked on her own musical journey and released her debut album in 2012. The Surrey-born singer-songwriter performs indie-folk originals.

Formed in 2019, this young indie rock band named themselves after a dual carriageway in the West Midlands. Their experimental style pays little attention to genres, blending violin and saxophone with guitar and keyboard for a muscular, energetic sound, which has been compared to Slint or Dirty Projectors. Many fans fell for their sardonic, zeitgeist-capturing storytelling style after hearing their first single Athens, France about dating a confident, younger girlfriend who was into Ariana Grande, followed up by Sunglasses, full of references to modern life, including NutriBullets and Danish crime dramas.

A few years ago, Grammy winning singer and songwriter, Jason Mraz released an album that would change his life - the multi-platinum best-selling, We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things. The album featured the record breaking I'm Yours - a buoyant, reggae-flavored love song which captured the hearts of people across the globe, surpassing 21 million sales worldwide and setting a record for the longest-running song in the 51-year history of Billboard's Hot 100 chart with 76 weeks on the chart. The track earned Jason a Grammy Song of the Year nomination, was ASCAPs 2010 Song of the Year and led to Mraz being given the Songwriters Hall of Fame's prestigious Hal David Starlight Award, which is presented to songwriters who have made a significant impact in the music industry with their original songs. In 2010, Jason garnered two Grammy wins to add to his long list of accomplishments, winning Best Male Pop Vocal Performance for Make It Mine and Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals for Lucky, his duet with Colbie Caillat, both from We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things. Though the album had a major effect on the public and the music industry, it had the biggest impact on Mraz himself, propelling the Virginia-born singer and songwriter to international stardom and creating touring demand across the world playing everywhere from Carnegie Hall to the Sydney Opera House to stadiums around the globe - a sweet invitation for this socially conscious and environmentally minded artist whose mission is to celebrate music's lasting power to inspire change and help others through global citizenship. Mraz spent 22 months on the road promoting We Sing, which followed on his previous studio albums, the 2002 debut Waiting For My Rocket To Come and 2005s Mr. A-Z. Mraz had been writing steadily, putting all of his experiences into song. He eventually pared down to the final 12 that appear on his fourth studio album, Love Is A Four Letter Word. Recorded at Hollywood's legendary Sunset Sound with producer Joe Chiccarelli (White Stripes, Christina Perri) and a line-up of all-star session musicians, the album's clever arrangements and rich musical textures cushion the diamond-cut clarity of Mrazs pure tenor voice. Having worked with the Surfrider Foundation, Free the Slaves, and the True Colors Fund, as well as actively supporting VH1s Save the Music, Free the Children, SPARC, (the School of the Performing Arts in the Richmond Community), MusiCares, and Life Rolls On, Mraz recently established the Jason Mraz Foundation to help sustain organisations aligned with his pillars of service, including working to end human trafficking within the human rights arena and promoting human equality, fighting for environment preservation, advocating for the arts and education, and aiding with recovery and assistance.

Due to huge demand, John Shuttleworth returns to the Playhouse this November with Raise the Oof! Radio 4 favourite, comedy legend, and ‘the 42nd best reason to love Britain’ (The Telegraph) John Shuttleworth, is back with more hilarious stories and songs performed on his trusty Yamaha organ (with built-in auto accompaniment!) In Raise The Oof John celebrates 40 years in showbiz. Yes, it was 1985 when he met TV’s Clarinet Man – next door neighbour Ken Worthington who came last on New Faces in 73 (Tony Hatch crucified him!)

John William Grant is an American and Icelandic singer, musician, and songwriter. He first became known as the co-founder, lead singer, pianist, and primary songwriter for the alternative rock band the Czars.

Ever wondered what became of Darth Vader and Mr Stevens or the monkey in the tree, did the pears ever ripen… and will God ever appear? It’s a glorious chance to ‘maybe’ find out the answers or discover more questions to those Izzard conundrums. It’s highly likely that no night will be exactly the same so as ever with Eddie, expect the unexpected. This show promises to be a beautiful, hilarious journey spanning a 35 year career of talking thought provoking, nonsense, who could resist?

Apparently caterpillars completely break down into goo before they become butterflies. Come join comedian Sara Pascoe as she reconsiders and reconstructs herself after having two babies and very little sleep.

Join Professor Alice Roberts as she takes us on an investigative journey to establish who spread Christianity, how and why; the story of the fall of an Empire – and the rise of another. Celebrating the publication of her new book, DOMINATION, the narrative will lead audiences from a secluded valley in South Wales to the shores of Brittany; from the heart of the Roman Empire in a time of political turmoil to the ancient city of Corinth in the footsteps of the apostle Paul; from Alexandria in the fourth century to Constantinople. As the Roman Empire crumbled in Western Europe, a shadow of power remained, almost perfectly mapping onto its disappearing territories. And then, it continued to spread. Unearthing the archaeological clues and challenging long-established histories, Professor Roberts tells a remarkable story about the relationship between the Roman Empire and Christianity. Lifting the veil on secrets that have been hidden in plain sight, this story is nothing short of astonishing. Domination is a page-turning exploration of power and its survival, and now you have the opportunity to hear more from the author in this exciting evening with Professor Alice Roberts.

The Transatlantic Ensemble After selling out last year, Transatlantic Ensemble return to The Queen's Hall by popular demand. Performing the iconic Rumours album in its entirety, plus loads of other Fleetwood Mac classics, experience one of the greatest albums of all time, lovingly and accurately recreated live, by this stunning ensemble of gifted young musicians. There’s something so evocative about the Rumours album... something that strikes a chord with every music fan. It has sound-tracked the lives of multiple generations. Ask anyone who has seen this phenomenal band, these shows are now an annual Edinburgh tradition. None Age category: 14+

Two-time Grammy nominee Tommy Emmanuel is one of Australia’s most respected musicians. The legendary guitarist has a professional career that spans five decades and continues to intersect with some of the finest musicians throughout the world. A household name in his native Australia, Tommy has garnered hundreds of thousands of loyal fans worldwide. Tommy’s unique style – he calls it simply “finger style” – is akin to playing guitar the way a pianist plays piano, using all ten fingers. Rather than using a whole band for melody, rhythm, bass, and drum parts, Tommy plays all that – and more – on one guitar. Guitar legend Chet Atkins was one of the first to inspire Emmanuel to try this “fingerpicker” style as a child. Decades later, Atkins himself became one of Emmanuel’s biggest fans. Tommy Emmanuel is an honorary Kentucky Colonel, a CGP (Certified Guitar Player – a title given by Chet Atkins to only 5 guitarists in the world), an Order of Australia Medalist (AM) and the holder of both an honorary Master’s Degree (MA) and more recently an honorary Doctor of Arts (DR) from Charles Sturt University in Australia in recognition of his commitment to rural Australia and his contribution to music education.

Ward Thomas could tell that change was afoot from the moment they wrote Cartwheels, now the punch-to-the-stomach title track of their sensational second album. Straight away the sisters knew the song was special. What they didn’t know was that their second album ‘Cartwheels’ would sail to #1 on the UK Album Chart on release making them the first ever UK country act to do so. Cartwheels the album, as you might guess, contains a cartwheel of emotions and each song suggested its own sound. “Lyrically, it was much more grown-up than anything on our debut. Sonically, it was a move away from country to lots of other influences we grew up with – Fleetwood Mac, The Beatles, KT Tunstall, some Kelly Clarkson, Taylor Swift’s Red album. We’re still influenced by country, we still adore the Dixie Chicks and Kacey Musgraves, but this isn’t just a country album.” In fact, the title track is among several on the album to shrug off country entirely, although the 22 year old twins’ beguiling harmonies remain their calling card. Lose Me is a fast-paced pop song that rocks out. The glorious Almost Easy adds strings and electronics to the mix. Bewitching ballad Who I’m Not is set to shimmering orchestration. Boisterous lead single Carry You Home is simply a storming pop song. The biggest change, however, was that the teenagers became adults. With their co-writers, they were four young women, sitting in a room, pouring their hearts out. They didn’t think in terms of genre, but of stories, emotions and coping mechanisms. They wrote about situations they had either experienced themselves or seen their friends go through. In extraordinary couplets they captured everything from deep friendship to deep despair, from loneliness and heartbreak to the joy of moving on, from feeling like a failure to the pleasure of heading to the hills to de-stress.

Discover the sound of the Polish Renaissance with this stunning 17th-century choral piece by Mikołaj Zieleński. The prize-winning Wrocław Baroque Ensemble specialises in music from the Polish Renaissance and Baroque eras. Dedicated to bringing forgotten music to a wider audience, they bring to life a little-known epic choral work. Under the baton of Andrzej Kosendiak, one of the most active organisers of musical life in Poland, the Wrocław Baroque Ensemble vividly recreates the sounds of Renaissance Poland. In their recital, they present a stunning 17th-century choral work performed on historically accurate instruments. The life of Polish composer Mikołaj Zieleński remains a mystery to modern audiences, but the few works he left behind are imbued with stunning charm. The ensemble have hand-picked a variety of pieces from his substantial Offertoria et Communiones totius anni, a group of some 117 individual pieces dating from 1611, ranging in mood from celebratory to solemn. Wrocław Baroque Ensemble Andrzej Kosendiak Conductor Aldona Bartnik Soprano Aleksandra Turalska Soprano Daniel Elgersma Countertenor Piotr Olech Countertenor Maciej Gocman Tenor Florian Cramer Tenor Tomáš Král Bass Jaromír Nosek Bass Zieleński Offertoria et communiones totius anni Sung in Latin with English surtitles

Join mezzo soprano Emily D'Angelo and pianist Sophia Muñoz for a programme of epic scope that explores humanity's connection to the natural world. Canadian mezzo-soprano Emily D’Angelo is known for her eclectic repertoire, and this recital with pianist Sophia Muñoz is no exception. D’Angelo brings her wondrous and powerful’ (The New York Times) voice to songs woven together by the theme of the natural world. This is a programme of epic scope, travelling from mountains with Béla Bartók to the desert with Jeanine Tesori and gardens with Rebecca Clarke and Alma Mahler. There is Scottish-Irish folksong by Francis McPeake, and D’Angelo’s homeland is represented in music by Canadian composer Walter MacNutt. Throughout, images of nature and their musical settings symbolise human emotions and experiences: love, longing, home. Sophia Muñoz regularly collaborates with Emily D’Angelo, a musical partnership that has drawn praise in Opera News for Muñoz’s gorgeous pianistic colours and D’Angelo’s luscious chest voice, dramatic pacing and technical command’. Supported by Brenda Rennie Bartók If I Go Up to the High Mountains Black Is the Earth Dance of Buchum Kodály Evening Song Handy Morning Star Jeanine Tesori Night Drive / The Desert Moon Change McPeake / Tannahill Wild Mountain Thyme Britten The Last Rose of Summer Clarke The Cloths of Heaven MacNutt Take Me to a Green Isle Barber Of That So Sweet Imprisonment Clarke Down by the Salley Gardens Vaughan Williams The Brewer Gustav Mahler Starke Einbildungskraft Alma Mahler Laue Sommernacht Die stille Stadt Waldseligkeit In meines Vaters Garten Bei dir ist es traut Korngold Liebesbriefchen Ullmann Wenn je ein Schönes mir zu bilden glückte Sung in English, German and Hungarian with English surtitles

The Polish pianist contrasts Johannes Brahms's melancholic Intermezzi with Béla Bartók's daring Bagatelles. The Polish pianist Piotr Anderszewski is known for his intimate and subtle playing style. It is beautifully suited to this programme of small-but-perfectly-formed works. Towards the end of his life, Johannes Brahms had a remarkable burst of creativity, much of it directed towards the piano. Written between 1892 and 1893, his graceful Intermezzi demonstrate stylistic freedom. Some resemble lullabies, others are darker and more troubled; each is expressive of a very personal world. Béla Bartók explored new musical territory with his 14 Bagatelles, composed in 1908. After finding inspiration in the folk music of Hungary and Transylvania, he began to break away from European convention, fusing traditional music with a highly individual, progressive style. Though tiny, these Bagatelles pack a punch and demonstrate an astonishing range of moods. Brahms Selections from Fantasies, Op.116 Three Intermezzi, Op.117 Six Pieces, Op.118 Four Pieces, Op.119 Bartók 14 Bagatelles, Op.6

Both intimate and autobiographical, Fibonacci Quartet bring this deeply personal programme to life. One of Europe’s leading string quarters, Fibonacci Quartet, brings their trademark brilliance to a programme of Scottish and Czech music, each work exploring the nature of love and communication. In her First Quartet (2014) Helen Grime focuses on pairs of instruments in different combinations, exploring the way they speak’ to each other. Leoš Janáček’s Second String Quartet (1928), subtitled Intimate Letters, was inspired by the composer’s infatuation with Kamila Stösslová. It gives prominence to the viola, the instrument Janáček associated with Kamila. More personal stories feature in Bedřich Smetana’s 1876 String Quartet in E minor, titled From My Life. It is infused with both the composer’s love of his country and anguish at his increasing deafness. Smetana entrusted what he called the small friendly circle’ of the string quartet to tell his story. Supported by Niall and Carol Lothian Helen Grime Quartet No.1 Janáček String Quartet No.2 Intimate Letters’ Smetana String Quartet in E minor, From my Life’ (1876)

Celebrated for their Lieder performances, this duo showcases the lyrical beauty of Johannes Brahms and Robert Schumann. Austrian baritone Florian Boesch and British accompanist Malcolm Martineau are celebrated for their Lieder performances. Their frequent collaborations bring a perfect balance of depth and sensitivity, with Martineau’s playing enhancing Boesch’s emotive baritone. In this classic programme of German Lieder, the duo zooms in on the music of Johannes Brahms and his mentor Robert Schumann. Sonntag (Sunday’) reflects Brahms’ lyrical depth and emotional resonance, while songs from Goethe’s Wilhelm Meister reflect Schumann’s ability to blend literary influence with music, capturing melancholy and longing with haunting melodies. The recital culminates in Schumann’s best-known song cycle, Dichterliebe (A Poet's Love’), in which Heinrich Heine’s poems weave a poignant tale of love and loss. Supported by Donald and Louise MacDonald R Schumann Die beiden Grenadiere, Op.49 No. 1 Belsazar Op. 57 Der Arme Peter, Op. 53 Nos. 1-3 Mein Wagen rollet langsam, Op. 142 No.4 Brahms Sonntag, Op. 47, No. 3 Blindekuh, Op.58 No. 1 Sehnsucht, Op.14, No. 8 Dein blaues Auge, Op.59 No. 8 Kein Haus, kein Heimat, Op.94 No.5 Die Trauernde, Op.7 No.5 Schwermut, Op.58 No. 5 Es steht ein Lind in jenem Tal, WoO 33 R Schumann 'Gesänge des Harfners' from Lieder und Gesänger aus Wilhelm Meister, Op.98a (Nos 4, 6 & 8) Wer nie sein Brot mit Tränen a ß Wer sich der Einsamkeit ergibt An die Türen will ich schleichen R Schumann Dichterliebe, Op.48

Explore the musical love triangle between Clara Schumann, Robert Schumann and Johannes Brahms. Discover music steeped in romance from three passionate composers whose lives were intimately connected from the mid 19th century onwards. Cellist Leonard Elschenbroich, praised by the New York Times for his 'expressive depth’, joins Alexei Grynyuk, described by BBC Music Magazine as a pianist of supreme technical virtuosity.’ Together, they bring this heartfelt repertoire to life. In 1849, Robert Schumann experienced one of his most remarkable bursts of creativity, composing around forty beautifully crafted works, including the piece featured in this concert. Clara, in 1853, wrote her sumptuous Romances (originally for violin) in the same year that the Schumanns befriended the 20-year-old Brahms. Robert’s untimely death in 1856 left Brahms to support Clara, having fallen in love with her. While Clara was devoted to her late husband, their relationship remained platonic, and Brahms’ music, so expressive of deep emotion, may have been an outlet for his unrequited love. Supported by Tanya and David Parker and Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany in Edinburgh Robert Schumann Three Romances for Oboe, Op.94 Clara Schumann Three Romances for Violin, Op.22 Johannes Brahms Vier ernste Gesänge (Four Serious Songs), Op.121 Cello Sonata No.2 in F Major, Op.99

Experience the expansive range of vocal music, from Baroque arias to specially commissioned contemporary works. Hugh Cutting, the first countertenor to win the Kathleen Ferrier Award, joins celebrated pianist George Ireland for a thrillingly eclectic recital that journeys across countries, genres and centuries. Flexing his voice beyond the baroque era, Cutting surprises at every turn. Operatic arias, from Claudio Monteverdi’s L’incoronazione di Poppea (1643) to George Benjamin’s Written on Skin (2012), mingle with Lieder by Franz Schubert and Hugh Wolf. The French Belle Époque (Beautiful Era) is represented with songs by Ernest Chausson, Reynaldo Hahn and Gabriel Fauré; while Girolamo Frescobaldi’s Se l’aura tutta vezzosa returns us to 17th-century Italy. The recital also features lesser-known composers like Betty Roe, alongside new commissions, including Piers Connor Kennedy’s electrifying Rough Rhymes, written for Cutting’s voice. Monteverdi E pur io torno from L'incoronazione di Poppea Howard So by my singing Mussorgsky Impromptu passioné Schubert Ganymed Wolf Herr, was trägt der Boden hier’ from Spanisches Liederbuch Handel 'Frà le stragi' from Alessandro Debussy 'Des pas sur la neige' from Préludes Book 1 Betty Roe 'To God' from Noble Numbers George Benjamin This says the Angel’ from Written on Skin Fauré Cygne sur l’eau’ from Mirages Vaughan Williams Linden Lea Vaughan Williams 'IV. Slow Air' and 'V Rondo' from Suite of Six Short Pieces Hahn À Chloris Frescobaldi Se l'aura spira tutta vezzosa Howells Come Sing and Dance Grainger Irish Tune from County Derry Piers Connor Kennedy: extracts from Rough Rhymes including Wait’, Two Worlds’ and Trees’ Sung in English, French, German and Italian with English subtitles

Johann Sebastian Bach’s violin concertos shine in this electrifying performance with soloist and ensemble in synergy. Greek violinist Leonidas Kavakos, celebrated for his vibrant and intuitive interpretations, brings his unparalleled artistry to this exceptional programme of Johann Sebastian Bach’s violin concertos. Revered for his deep connection with Bach’s music, Kavakos has called it the most perfect music ever written,’ a sentiment that comes alive in this performance. Joined by the Apollon Ensemble, known for its one-per-part precision, Kavakos reveals the full depth of Bach’s compositions. With their rigour and flair’ (Gramophone Magazine), they bring out the intricate counterpoint, harmonies, and dazzling virtuosity of these works, capturing the emotional range Bach wove into every note. Supported by Sheila Colvin Bach Violin Concerto No.1 in A minor, BWV1041 Violin Concerto No.2 in E, BWV1042 Violin Concerto in G minor, BWV1056r Violin Concerto in D minor, BWV1052r

Emerging vocalists perform Johannes Brahms's enchanting love waltzes under expert guidance. Rising Stars offers the world a glimpse at the future of classical music. This edition of our Rising Stars concerts focuses on vocalists on the cusp of their careers, nurtured and inspired by a professional mentor. The up-and-coming singers perform Brahms’s Liebeslieder Waltzes, a set of heartfelt love songs. Setting folk-inspired poetry by Georg Friedrich Daumer, Brahms moves effortlessly between joy, longing, and playful mischief. Originally written for intimate salon performances, the waltzes became widely popular, with Brahms himself often playing the piano parts alongside Clara Schumann. Feeling inspired? Find out what it takes to become a Rising Star. Supported by David and Brenda Lamb and Finlay and Lynn Williamson Brahms Liebeslieder Waltzes Sung in German with English surtitles

Scottish Chamber Orchestra performs familiar repertoire for people with dementia and their loved ones. New to the International Festival this year, a concert designed especially for people living with dementia, their caregivers, family and friends. This relaxed performance by musicians from Scottish Chamber Orchestra enables those who have dementia to enjoy familiar repertoire in a relaxing and flexible environment. Designed to be engaging and enjoyable, audience members will have the chance to move around the auditorium, arrive early and take breaks to accommodate their needs. Features of this relaxed performance: This performance will have a reduced audience capacity The auditorium will open at 2.30pm, giving people time to settle into the space before the performance begins House lights will remain on low throughout the performance One of the musicians will introduce each piece of music before it is played Audiences can speak or make noise throughout the concert Audiences can move around, leave and return to the auditorium as much as they like A quiet area will be available close to the auditorium, should audience members wish to take a break from the performance Programme includes Works by Johann Strauss and a selection of Scottish tunes Presented in association with Alzheimer Scotland

Expressive singing reveals the emotional depth of Benjamin Britten, Ralph Vaughan Williams and Edward Elgar. One of the most emotive singers working today, Ian Bostridge frequently performs music by Benjamin Britten, who wrote some of his most personal and heartfelt songs for the tenor voice. Britten’s Seven Sonnets of Michelangelo are sung alongside Ralph Vaughan Williams’ elegiac On Wenlock Edge from 1909 which brings the poetry of AE Housman to life. Vaughan Williams wrote the cycle following lessons with the French composer Maurice Ravel. He remarked that his music thereafter had a French polish’, which can definitely be heard in this shimmering piece. Edward Elgar’s Piano Quintet in A Minor (1918) is a piece of great contrasts: melancholic and vigorous, sustained and fragmented. Composed at the end of World War I, and one of Elgar’s final works, it is a powerful and very human response to the horrors of the previous years. Supported by Susie Thomson Ian Bostridge Tenor Sir Antonio Pappano Piano Britten Seven Sonnets of Michelangelo Vaughan Williams On Wenlock Edge Elgar Piano Quintet in A minor Sung in Italian and English with English surtitles

This leading baroque ensemble revives Handel's sparkling comic cantata, unearthing the origins of his operatic masterpieces. Little is known about the genesis of Handel's early comic cantata Clori, Tirsi e Fileno, but the score was mined for a number of hits in his more well-known operas. Who better to bring this once neglected comedy to fizzing life than the dynamic Dunedin Consort and their incisive Music Director, John Butt. Clori, Tirsi e Fileno tells the pastoral tale of an indecisive shepherdess whose wavering affections drive both her suitors away, proving that love doesn’t always flourish - sometimes it fades before it even begins. A light-hearted romp through the mores of its time, it concludes with a playful trio, Vivere e non amar (To live and not to love’). Sharp-eared listeners will find echoes in Handel's Rodrigo and Acis and Galatea but hearing this witty cantata in its full is a rare and revelatory treat. Handel Clori, Tirsi e Fileno John Butt Director Julie Roset Soprano Nardus Williams Soprano Reginald Mobley Countertenor Sung in Italian with English surtitles

An inspired collaboration illuminates works by Karol Szymanowski, Claude Debussy and César Franck. Maria Dueñas and Alexander Malofeev are one of the most inspired pairings in the recital world. Their ability to communicate the very soul of the music they play, and their joy in collaboration, are perfect for this passionate programme of music by Karol Szymanowski, Claude Debussy and César Franck. Szymanowski’s Violin Sonata (1904) is a work from his twenties, full of youthful vigour as well as great tenderness. By contrast, Debussy’s Sonata was composed in 1917, a year before his death. Anarchic as ever, he manages to dismantle convention in the most charming way. Franck’s famous Sonata (1886) is a joyous celebration. Written to mark the marriage of its first soloist, the final movement sees the performers chasing each other around the score in a flurry of wedding bells. Szymanowski Violin Sonata in D minor, Op.9 Debussy Violin Sonata in G minor Franck Violin Sonata in A

Mark Simpson brings dual talents as composer and clarinettist to an intimate programme featuring Johannes Brahms and his own works. A virtuoso clarinettist with a glittering composing career’ (The Arts Desk), Mark Simpson is joined on stage by Richard Uttley, Piano Professor at the Royal College of Music. Together, they perform a selection of Simpson’s own compositions alongside works by Brahms. Since becoming the first-ever winner of both the BBC Young Musician of the Year and BBC Proms/Guardian Young Composer of the Year competitions in 2006, Simpson has forged a dual career, championing new music while delivering insightful, nuanced interpretations of the clarinet repertoire. Uttley is celebrated for the integrity and breadth of his musicianship as a soloist, chamber musician and recording artist. Simpson’s performances of Brahms have been praised for their real sense of shape and flow’ and cathartic’ emotion (The Guardian), qualities that will bring out the warmth and richness of Brahms’s contemplative music. Sir James Macmillan After The Tryst Mark-Anthony Turnage Cradle Song Jay Capperauld So My Tears Flow Mark Simpson Echoes and Embers Brahms Clarinet Sonata in F minor, Op.120 No.1 Zoë Martlew Pyrrhos Mark Simpson Lov(escape) Gavin Higgins Three Broken Love Songs Brahms Clarinet Sonata in E flat, Op.120 No. 2

Join creative collaborators Pavel Kolesnikov and Samson Tsoy for a deeply spiritual recital of piano works, ranging from Bach to Messiaen. Kolesnikov and Tsoy have been lauded for the electrifying intimacy’ of their recitals (The Guardian). They perform a deeply spiritual programme of two-piano works - both miniature and mighty. Johann Sebastian Bach’s Orgelbüchlein (Little Organ Book), composed in Weimar in the early 18th century, turns Lutheran chorales into intricate, expressive works. This piano duet arrangement reveals their lyrical beauty and layered harmonies anew. Messiaen shared with Bach a profound religious belief, which influenced all his compositions. His Visions de l’Amen was composed for two pianos in 1943; Messiaen premiered the work with his future wife Yvonne Loriod in occupied Paris. The suite of seven pieces has a captivating power, moving between austere simplicity and sumptuous richness, with moments of quiet reflection and intense energy. JS Bach: Chorales Arrangements by György Kurtág for two pianos and one piano four hands Gottes Zeit ist die allerbeste Zeit: Sonatina, BWV 106 Aus tiefer Not schrei ich zu dir, BWV 687 Allein Gott in der Höh’ sei Ehr, BWV 711 Ach wie nichtig, ach wie flüchtig, BWV 644 O Lamm Gottes, unschuldig, BWV deest Gott, durch deine Güte, BWV 600 Christum wir sollen loben schon, BWV 611 Liebster Jesu, wir sind hier, BWV 633 Nun komm’ der Heiden Heiland, BWV 599 Herr Christ, der ein’ge Gottes-Sohn, BWV 601 Christe, du Lamm Gottes, BWV 619 Dies sind die heil’gen zehn Gebot’, BWV 635 Das alte Jahr vergangen ist, BWV 614 Alle Menschen müssen sterben BWV 643 Gottes Zeit ist die allerbeste Zeit: Sonatina, BWV 106 Plus works by György Kurtág --Interval-- Olivier Messiaen Visions de l’Amen

Revitalising and transforming chamber music from the 18th and 19th centuries, Belcea Quartet's provocative recital spans Beethoven, Mendelssohn and Mozart. The Belcea Quartet bring their electrifying energy to a programme of extraordinary string quartets. Spanning Ludwig van Beethoven’s late works, Felix Mendelssohn’s youthful and autumnal moods and Mozart’s Dissonance’ Quartet, their recital will leave you rethinking these familiar works. Beethoven’s final major work, String Quartet no. 16, surprises and charms with its cheerful and surprisingly mischievous melodies, while Mendelssohn’s youthful and yearning Capriccio contrasts sharply with his more autumnal Fugue, composed over sixteen years later. Even more of a surprise is Mozart’s Dissonance’ Quartet, so-called because of the unusual opening harmonies, which sound as if they have time-travelled to Mozart’s era from our own. With precision and passion, this exceptional quartet offers a fresh perspective on these beloved pieces, which will leave you inspired and invigorated. Supported by David Millar and Romanian Cultural Institute in London Mendelssohn Four Pieces for String Quartet No.4 Fugue in E flat, Op.81 No.4 No.3 Capriccio in E minor, Op.81 No.3 Beethoven String Quartet No.16 in F, Op.135 Mozart String Quartet No.19 in C, K465 Dissonance’

Discover the gold standard of choral singing and percussion in the opening concert of The Queen's Hall series. Vocal perfection meets percussive precision in a dazzling concert of (mostly) contemporary works. The King’s Singers pair up with Colin Currie on the marimba in Steve Martland’s playful Street Songs, while the marimba flies solo in Bryce Dessner’s mesmeric Tromp Miniature. Alongside, some big questions are asked. The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic hovers over Missy Mazzoli’s A Year of Our Burning, in a world premiere arrangement, while Francesca Amewudah-Rivers asks, Do you know how it feels to be alive?’ Music from across the globe - from South Africa to Japan to the US - provides a glorious variety of answers. Seventeenth-century composer Thomas Weelkes makes a brief appearance to remind us that some things don’t change. And bringing us right up to date is the thrilling prospect of a James MacMillan premiere. In memory of Peter Diamand Sung in Japanese, Zulu and English with English surtitles

BBC Young Musician of the Year winner takes on an all-Chopin programme that showcases extraordinary mastery of the piano. Crowned BBC Young Musician of the Year 2024, the exceptional Ryan Wang performs four works by the Romanticist Frédéric Chopin. Chopin’s 24 Preludes, written in the 1830s and completed in Mallorca, span the full spectrum of emotion. Some flash by in thirty seconds, while others linger in heartbreak or push the pianist to fiendish extremes. The rest of the programme is just as varied. The Mazurkas dance between melancholy and mischief, and the stormy Sonata carries the weight of its famous funeral march. Finally, Chopin tips his hat to opera with Là ci darem la mano’, inspired by Mozart’s Don Giovanni. Supported by Sheila Colvin and an anonymous donor

With hits like ‘Digging Your Scene’ and ‘It Doesn’t Have To Be This Way’, The Blow Monkeys epitomised the glamour of mid-80s pop at its most graceful and sophisticated. In the band’s frontman Robert Howard (aka Dr. Robert), they possessed a tall, charismatic singer who was both camera-friendly and clever, who appeared to be just as much at ease on the catwalk that is pop’s conveyor belt as he was penning witty, incisive songs. While quite clearly Robert’s band, though, the Blow Monkeys were also gifted three immensely talented musicians in bassist Mick Anker (he of the trademark bowler hat), saxophonist Neville Henry and drummer Tony Kiley. Behind the band’s stylish veneer lay something else, which became increasingly apparent from Robert’s lyrics. While some of the Smash Hits generation avoided politics with a capital P, The Blow Monkeys openly criticised the policies of the Conservative government, railing against social injustices and adopting an openly left-of-centre stance on issues of the day. From openly endorsing the gay community “Digging Your Scene” to an outright attack on Margaret Thatcher ‘Celebrate (The Day After You)’ – a duet with the late, great Curtis Mayfield, The Blow Monkeys were always the thinking person’s pop group. As the 1980s progressed, so too did the band’s musical style, from a sound once dubbed “jazz punk” by Robert to a more soulful, jazzy style and an ever-increasing adoption of dance music. The Blow Monkeys of their rare, indie debut single ‘Live Today Love Tomorrow’ (recorded on a shoestring in 1981) would be barely recognisable to those who bought the Balearic remix of ‘La Passionara’ from 1990. And yet a soulful, spiritually uplifting strain has continued to run through their music – and, indeed, that of Robert’s solo recordings – to this day.

Horror author Nick Steen is having visions… A sinister Black Steeple; eerie lights in the sky that look like a Catherine wheel but are not remotely a Catherine wheel… Plus a giant skeleton with a moustache. Are they omens? Auguries? Portenderings of things to come? (Spoiler – yes, they are). For Nick Steen’s imagination is bursting out of his brain and threatening to burst in turn the entirety of Stalkford. Can Nick stop the aforesaid bursting? Or have things already slightly burst regardless? And will there ultimately be a grand finale to this three-book series (aka a trilogy) or a more open-ended conclusion in order to leave potential room for further sequels? (That, btw, will ultimately be Garth’s decision.) From the fevered imaginata of Horror Fiction’s Grand Frightener Garth Marenghi, author of Sunday Times Bestselling Garth Marenghi’s TerrorTome and Garth Marenghi’s Incarcerat, come three freshly rancid tales of… …This Bursted Earth…

Join two of the most revered female singer-songwriters for an evening of unparalleled music. Appearing together on stage for the first time to perform songs such as ‘Stay With Me Till Dawn’, ‘Sand and Water’, ‘Bring The Rain’, ‘This Kiss’ and their stunning collaboration, ‘Safe’. Alongside their musicians, this is set to be a beautiful night of lyric, song and harmony.

Edwyn Stephen Collins is a Scottish musician, producer and record label owner. Collins was the lead singer for the 1980s post-punk band Orange Juice, which he co-founded. After the group split in 1985, Collins started a solo career. His 1994 single "A Girl Like You" was a worldwide hit.

Horse makes an exciting return with the 30th year anniversary celebrations of the first Horse album The Same Sky. This is a rare chance to share and relive memories from the evocative and formative first Horse album. In March 1989, the first single You Could Be Forgiven was released. It was so different from anything else – and with thrilling first plays on Radio 1, this track absolutely set the bar. The first major UK tour followed. In 1990 the album followed and tours across Europe opening for artists such as Tina Turner and BB King. The standout song from this album and arguably, of any of her albums, is Careful, a beautiful and timeless song, which will forever be her My Way. A special night which will inevitably conjure up treasured times from over the years for her entire audience. It’s the full band show, playing the album in its entirety with B-sides and a best of the rest – a set choc-full of classic songs. A very special evening indeed.

Withered Hand is the nom de plume of Edinburgh-based singer-songwriter Dan Willson, who started writing songs almost ten years ago during a period of reflection following the birth of his first child and the death of a close friend. With a wayward tenor and unaffected charm onstage he has come to be celebrated in his adopted country and further afield as a songwriter and lyricist of rare wit and remarkable honesty. Alongside activity with his band, Dan is also a well-travelled solo musician with a cult following. 2014 saw the release of his strident second album New Gods, which propelled Withered Hand into the charts, featuring appearances by friends, luminaries and supporters from the Scottish music scene, from Belle & Sebastian to Frightened Rabbit to The Vaselines and beyond.

Blessed with an easy charm and a gift for melody, Colin Hay parlayed his success as the chief singer/songwriter for the Australian new wave titans Men at Work into a long career as a troubadour and occasional actor. Hay stumbled slightly at the outset of his solo career, with his 1987 debut Looking for Jack failing to maintain the mass audience he earned with the blockbuster success of Men at Work. By the end of the 1990s, Hay sowed the seeds for what became an enduring career. He turned away from major labels and founded his own indie Lazy Eye; he backed away from arena rock and began singing sweet folk-pop, he embraced his adopted hometown of Los Angeles and found a creative foil in Cecilia Noel, a Peruvian singer he'd later marry. Hay also happily returned to such Men at Work hits as "Who Can It Be Now," "Down Under," and "Overkill," finding a receptive patron in Zach Braff, who featured Hay's music in his 2004 film Garden State and his sitcom Scrubs, giving the singer a boost in popularity in the early 2000s.

The country’s best comedians are taking the stage for a spectacular all-star festive bill of comedy goodness throughout this festive season.

Dexys Midnight Runners, later shortened to Dexys, were a British new wave band known for their blend of Northern soul, Irish folk, and pop rock. Formed in Birmingham in 1978 by Kevin Rowland and Kevin Archer, they achieved major success in the early 1980s with hits like "Geno" and "Come On Eileen".

Withered Hand Dan Willson (Withered Hand) is joined by a host of very special guests from the world of alternative acoustic, folk and rock for another of his legendary festival line-ups featuring classics, collaborations and barely concealed chaos. None Age category: 14+

Presented by Raw Material Too old and unsteady to move, too vulnerable to survive on its own, the lofty Sabal palm of Edinburgh’s Royal Botanic Garden reflects on two hundred years of containment, dislocation and human care, as it outgrows its 19th century glasshouse home and approaches its chainsaw demise, making way for a new conservation research facility. Award-winning writer-musician Karine Polwart imagines the poetic and musical voice of the old Sabal itself, in an exploration of historical legacies, ecological loss, collective ritual and the multi-generational promise of gardens. With acclaimed pianist Dave Milligan. “\*\*\*\*\* A spellbinding storyteller” (Irish Times). MadeInScotlandShowcase.com. None Age category: 12+

PP Arnold An unmissable evening with the 60s icon and London's First Lady of Soul. Classic songs and stories from six decades working in music with The Rolling Stones, The Small Faces, Clapton, Barry Gibb, Peter Gabriel, KLF, Primal Scream, Ocean Colour Scene and many more. None Age category: 14+

St Mary’s Music School Summer Concert A celebration of emerging talent and great music in one of Edinburgh’s iconic venues. The evening’s programme features works by Haydn, Satie, Debussy and Saint-Saëns, performed by the exceptional young musicians of Scotland’s national specialist music school.

The Sitkovetsky Trio is a well-established and exceptional piano trio, having previously received the BBC Music Magazine’s Chamber Music Award. This concert starts with a fresh interpretation of works from Max Bruch’s ‘Eight Pieces’, (originally written for piano, viola and clarinet), that allows each of the trio’s soloist talents to shine through in turn. The concert’s a rare opportunity to hear music by French composer Cècile Chaminade. In 1913, she was awarded the Légion d’Honneur, a first for a female composer. Her Piano Trio No. 2 in A min is a work filled with gorgeous and lyrical melodies, as is the concert’s finale work, Brahms’ Piano Trio No. 2 in C Major.