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 Performers from across Scotland, traditional and contemporary, will join
together for a day of Scottish Parliament activities on Saturday 30 June
celebrating Scotland's heritage and modern achievements.
The free afternoon of entertainment, a 'Picnic at the Parliament', was
unveiled today, ahead of one of the bands taking part - the Red Hot Chilli
Pipers - visiting the Parliament for a rehearsal.
Events will commence on the morning of 30 June with an address in the
debating chamber by Her Majesty The Queen to Members of the Scottish Parliament
and guests. This ceremony will be broadcast live to a screen in Holyrood's
landscaped gardens, before 1,200 people process down the Royal Mile, in a Riding
set to be even more colourful than that for the opening of Holyrood in 2004.
The Riding will sweep past the Palace of Holyroodhouse and into the
Parliament's landscaped grounds, where the 'Picnic at the Parliament' will begin
at around midday. Sports presenter Grant Stott will compere the concert.
First up will be Blazin' Fiddles, reputed to be the Led Zeppelin of the folk
world and the U2 of their genre. Contemporary in style, the music will be
fast-paced and underpinned by inventive guitar and piano accompaniment.
Catriona Watt from the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama (RSAMD)
takes the stage next. Catriona is the BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional
Musician of the Year in 2007, winning the title for her moving performance of
Gaelic song.
A boy band with a twist then takes the stage: the TNT Bagpipe Boy Band, also
from RSAMD. The world's first boy band on pipes TNT (The New Tradition) formed
in 2006. The band recently signed an album contract and are working on their
debut album.
They will be followed by the Red Hot Chilli Pipers - winners earlier this
year on Graham Norton's 'When Will I Be Famous?' They were the only Scottish act
in the show and have appeared on the main stage at the T in the Park Festival
with the headline band, The Darkness.
Following the Pipers will be Waa-Sylla, a West African group performing their
own style of high-energy drum music and dance. They will then hand the stage
over to Salsa Celtica, a vibrant ten-piece world fusion band who combine salsa
rhythms with traditional Scottish sounds.
The Inverness Gaelic Choir (Coisir Ghaidhlig Inbhir Nis) make a welcome
return, having performed in 1999 at the Opening of Parliament and again in 2003
when The Queen addressed Members at the start of the Parliament's second
term.
Highland 2007 is the year that Scotland celebrates Highland culture and Feis
Rois Young Musicians will take to the stage later in the afternoon. Established
in 1986, the group provides year-round tuition and performance events for young
people.
The final set will be from the Portobello Ceilidh Band. The band holds the
record for the Longest Strip the Willow in the World - performed at the Night
Afore New Year street celebrations in 2005.
Presiding Officer, Alex Fergusson MSP said:
"Our aim is to offer all people of Scotland something that reflects our
heritage and our future. As the people's Scottish Parliament it is important the
day offers something for everyone to take part in.
"The Scottish Parliament has been sitting for more than eight years - but
with this lively line-up it's unlikely that people will be sitting around for
long. These bands demonstrate the wealth of talent that Scotland has to offer -
from traditional and modern genres."
The day will be webcast live on the Parliament website (http://www.scottish.parliament.uk).
Background
Further details on the day including the Riding route, participants and guest
list will be released next week.
The event to mark the start of the third session is in three parts:
Morning
Debating Chamber: Address by Her Majesty The Queen. This will be
relayed live to a screen in the landscaped gardens of the Parliament.
The 'Riding': Around 1,200 people representing all fields of Scottish
achievement, interspersed with bands, banners and performers will make their way
down the Royal Mile to Holyrood.
Lunchtime onwards
Landscaped gardens: A free public event with live music
- traditional, contemporary, multi-cultural and international - drama and dance.
Guests and the public will be able to sit together in the gardens with their
picnics. Cafe-style tables and chairs will also be available for guests in a
sheltered area at the front of the Parliament.
Free exhibitions: In the Scottish Parliament building, which will be open to
the public.
Background on the Red Hot Chilli Pipers
The Red Hot Chilli Pipers, who
recently won the BBC TV's "When will I be Famous", are an exciting fast paced
act featuring three pipers and two percussionists. The line-up includes BBC
Radio Scotland's Young Traditional Musician of the Year 2005, piper Stuart
Cassells. The group have been described as bagpipes with attitude and drums with
a Glasgow accent. http://www.redhotchillipipers.co.uk/
photo by Jon Ng
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