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By Stephanie Gibson
Solas Festival, Scotland’s midsummer festival of music, arts and ideas, is delighted to announce its headline acts and some early programme details for 2018 and we can't wait! As we get ready for another year, we take a look back at some of 2017's highlights whilst getting our floral crowns and dancing shoes at the ready!
The festival is nestled in the idyllic countryside setting of The Bield at Blackruthven in Perthshire, and has run over midsummer weekend every year since 2009. This year, the festival’s theme is Drift, and various artists, performances and discussions will explore the drift between peoples and places – from the songs and stories of Gaelic traveller communities, to the darker connections between Scotland and Empire. Audiences are invited to come and examine how people move in and out Scotland and around our world, and what those journeys can mean.
MUSIC
The headline acts on Friday and Saturday night will be Jordanian/Palestinian shamstep act 47Soul, whose debut album Balfron Promise just made The Guardian’s World Music Album of the Month, and Aidan Moffat and RM Hubbert, who will be performing songs from their new collaborative album.
Rising Scottish music star Siobhan Wilson, a regular on the BBC 6Music playlist, will also be playing a key set as part of seminal Edinburgh music label Song By Toad’s tenth anniversary showcase at Solas Festival, alongside acts including Johnnie Common and Adam Stafford. Other acts on the lineup include Withered Hand, folk singer Grace Petrie, Roseanne Reid, Scottish electronica act Bossy Love, Glasgow new-New Waver LUCIA, North African folk from Gnawa Transfusion, with more names to be announced!
PERFORMANCE
Hannah Lavery, recipient of the Tom McGrath Playwriting Grant and the Workers’ Theatre Megaphone residency, will be performing her solo show The Drift, exploring migrant and mixed race identities in Scotland.
World Slam Champion Harry Baker will be leading slam poetry workshops and performing on the main stage.
Surge street theatre performers will be roaming the site, including a drag king send-up of the Gallagher brothers and a puppet show based on Aztec fairytales, alongside many more fantiastic performers!
IDEAS
Professor John Curtice will be examining about how Scotland votes in a discussion session. With Labour on the rise and Brexit on the cards, what do future elections hold for Scotland's politics and identity?
Other groups and individuals leading talks and discussions include musician, political activist and former member of Faithless Dave Randall, expert on colonialism Professor Charles Forsdick, Hearts and Minds Clown Doctors, and UNESCO Chair Professor Alison Phipps, and many more!
GALLERY PHOTOGRAPHERS
This bright and vibrant gallery is thanks to the super talented photographers that contributed, including: Stephanie Gibson, Jassy Earl, Colin Templeton and Sita Pieraccini. Thanks guys for your awesome pics!
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The festival offers a broad, inclusive, creative and entertaining programme for festival-goers of all ages in a safe environment; everyone is welcome.
Solas Festival runs from Friday 22 – Sunday 24 June 2018. Tickets are on sale now: weekend including camping £100/£58 conc/£32 under 18s. Children aged under 12 go free. More information is available on our event listing here >>>
We also have a competition where you can WIN a weekend Family pass for Solas Festival 2018. Competition closes on the 12th June 2018. Enter here >>>
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