New boutique promoter launches Edinburgh gigs

New promoter, Edinburgh Music Lovers (EML), has announced its first two gigs and a partnership with mental health charity SAMH. The gigs will see Scottish debuts of two critically acclaimed artists: experimental American musician Colin Stetson, who will play Summerhall on Sat 29 Sep, and East London rapper Kojey Radical playing The Caves on Sun 11 Nov.

EML has been set up by former music journalist, Jim Byers, who hopes to develop Edinburgh’s reputation as a music city, despite recent well-publicised venue closures, problems with restrictions on noise and property development. “I believe, as many do, that Edinburgh punches below its weight for music given it’s a capital city,” says Byers. “The city’s music fans often miss out on touring acts, or are forced to spend time and money travelling elsewhere. As a boutique promoter dedicated to Edinburgh, ultimately we’d like to make Edinburgh one of the most exciting cities in the UK and beyond for live music.”

Through the events, EML hopes to raise awareness of mental health, as well as funds for its partner, SAMH, the Scottish Association for Mental Health. Plans also include a flagship annual music festival.

Luminate Returns

Luminate, Scotland’s festival of creative ageing, will be returning in 2019.

The festival has taken place nationwide since 2012, but the decision was taken earlier this year to become biennial to allow the organisation to develop a year-round programme in the intervening years. This means there will be no Luminate Festival this October, and will instead return in May 2019.

The festival’s format will remain the same, with events happening across the country from Shetland to Dumfries & Galloway. Proposals will be invited from community groups, cultural organisations and artists in late 2018 to submit events to the programme. Deadline for submission will be early in 2019.

Perth announce new season

Perth Theatre have announced their spring season.

Highlights include the Victorian thriller Gaslight , directed by Kai Fischer, which will run from Sat 23 Mar to Sat 6 Apr, and Scottish fishing tale Lost At Sea, written by Morna Young and inspired by the loss of her own father at sea when she was a child. The Ian Brown directed production will run from Sat 27 Apr to Sat 4 May.

The full programme and tickets for all shows are available from the theatre’s website.