The Big Tent 2010

News Release

Music at the Big Tent plays an integral role; with some unmissable acts helping to make Scotland’s Environmental Festival a must-visit weekend and 2010 will be no exception.

The music programme kicks off on the evening of Friday 23^rd July until Sunday 25^th July  and will feature an exciting line-up of up and coming and established artists with music inspired by the four corners of the globe. There is a major focus on world music and on celebrating the best of Fife during its Year of Culture.

The first batch of confirmed artists includes King Creosote and FOUND of Fife’s Fence Collective, Aberfeldy, Joe Acheson Quartet, Nuala Kennedy, Mr McFalls Chamber and Sharon King.

Kenny Anderson aka King Creosote has released over forty albums and is the founder of Fence Records, Fife’s best-known record label and hugely successful musical collective.

FOUND, the experimental pop band that merges garage rock, melodic and electronic pop is red hot and has just won a Scottish BAFTA award. Inventive and highly creative, FOUND is a fantastic live band with a lot to say and a plethora of positive reviews.

Aberfeldy and their diverse indie-pop will make their Big Tent debut. Since forming in 2002, the Edinburgh band has supported top acts such as REM, Blondie, the Scissors Sisters, James Blunt and Paolo Nutini.

Aberfeldy is one of the most diverse bands to emerge in Scotland in recent years and utilise a blend of soft percussion and shimmering acoustic guitars, creating dreamy soundscapes with simple and honest lyrics.

The Joe Acheson Quartet has been making mind-melting head music for a few years now, gaining huge praise in the process. Their music is on a grand scale, evoking the likes of Cinematic Orchestra and DJ Shadow, but with a distinctive Scottish hue.

Mr McFalls Chamber plays a range of music from tango, through jazz and rock to contemporary classical and a whole lot more, perfectly reflecting the diversity that Big Tent promotes. They are all principle players of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and have been called “the single most important group in Scotland.”

Both Sharon King and Nuala Kennedy have the ability to enthral audiences with their impressive singer-songwriter credentials. Sharon King blends modern folk and country, whilst Nuala Kennedy interprets traditional Irish and Scottish music in the most upbeat and original way, she released a new album called ‘Tune In’ last month.

There will also be an extensive world music programme with a number of international acts taking part, helping to reflect the cultural diversity that is so much at the heart of Big Tent.

Phil Kay will be reprising his role as MC of all that he surveys in the tented village and is sure to add an extra dimension of fun and frolics to the weekend’s events.

Dana MacLeod, Cultural Programme Director for Big Tent said: “Our music programme reflects the ethos of Big Tent – locally rooted but with a global perspective. It is a melting pot of musical styles with a healthy measure of both Scottish and International groups from Anstruther to Zimbabwe!  Emerging and experimental music will sit alongside classical and traditional with a programme featuring electro art pop, tango and celidh bands on the same bill.

So whether you are a serious aficionado who wants to be intellectually challenged, listen to new songwriting, or someone who wants to jig about in your wellies, there will be something to entertain, delight and even surprise you at the Big Tent.”

Helen Lawrenson, Centre Director, Falkland Centre for Stewardship added: “As a flagship event of Fife’s Year of Culture we’d like to thank Fife Council for its funding. We are very excited about the acts we are announcing today and look forward to announcing our headline acts and world music programme at a later date.”

The music programme will include diverse musical styles such as indie-pop, folk, world, country, jazz, experimental, acoustic and even classical. Early bird tickets with 10% discount are now available on www.bigtentfestival.co.uk or www.ticketmaster.co.uk

Big Tent is Scotland’s environmental festival and winner of the greener festival award 2009. It takes place from 23^rd – 25^th July. Set on Falkland Estate in Fife against the stunning backdrop of the Lomond Hills, 2010 is the event’s fifth anniversary.  Organised by Falkland Centre for Stewardship, the three day festival is family-friendly and packed with a range of great activities.

Further information of the Big Tent programme will be announced in due course. In the meantime, to find out more or book tickets please visit www.bigtentfestival.co.uk

(Ends)

Enjoy traditional Scottish song and music at Falkland Palace on March 10th and 11th in Falkland Palace.  With a great selection of Fife’s finest performers – some of whom have played at Big Tent – naturally… Also showing is ‘Arcadia’ – enjoy music with 17th century Flemish tapestries as the score. SpringFestTickets are only £5/£3 so book now.  More details at www.centreforstewardship.org.uk or call 01337 858838.

• Iain Anderson
• Gemma Donald
• Jeana Leslie
• Siobhan MillerSpringFest
• Norrie McIvor
• Neil Paterson
• Peter Shepheard
• Alan Small
• The Early Learning Ceilidh Band
• Simon Chadwick
• Chris Miles

This is an article taken from this week’s List.  Many of the artists exhibiting at The Link have either performed at Big Tent or will be performing this year.  And it’s organised by Chloe who is one of the great people helping to organise this year’s music.  So go see!   http://www.list.co.uk/article/22852-the-link/

“A fascinating project combining exhibition, auction and gig aims to examine the crossover between music and visual art, showcase artworks made by musicians, and throw a live show into the bargain. Appropriately named the Link, it’s the brainchild of young promoter Chloe Milne.

‘I pitched the idea to a bunch of musicians,’ she says, ‘cos a lot of musicians do their own artwork at the start, then that sometimes disappears, and I didn’t think the connection had been examined properly before.’

Milne is a long-time fan of Fife’s Fence Collective, whose DIY approach to music, packaging and promotion caught her eye. For the exhibition, she’s received artworks from Fence favourites King Creosote, Lone Pigeon and James Yorkston, as well as a typically wonky-sounding offering from Edinburgh soundsmiths FOUND, a pinhole camera made from an old record player.

The exhibition ends on 16 Jan with a gig and auction of the artworks, with FOUND performing and all proceeds going to Nordoff-Robbins, the music therapy charity. And if all goes well, there’s the possibility of it becoming a regular thing. ‘It could be expanded into a monthly night that showcases musicians’ art at gigs,’ says Milne. ‘It would be a great thing to continue, if we can.’

Music Library, Edinburgh, Tue 5–Sat 16 Jan”

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a peaceful New Year.

See you in 2010.

Love the Big Tent Team xxx

We are delighted to announce that the Big Tent has been awarded the GREENER FESTIVAL AWARD 2009.
We are in the ‘Outstanding’ category. The trophy is made out of recycled plastic bottles, crushed CDs and remoulded Wellington boots.

This is a great boost to our very small team that has built this event up over the last few years.

The Award is based on a 56 part questionnaire which covers office management, cutting greenhouse gas emissions, supporting green initiatives, travel and transport, waste and recycling, water management, environmental protection and noise reduction.

Other festivals in the ‘Outstanding’ category include:

BESTIVAL (England)
BONNAROO (USA)
BIG TENT (Scotland)
BLUESFEST (Aus)
CROISSANT NEUF (Wales)
EOLICA (Canary Islands, Spain)
ISLE OF WIGHT (England)
PEATS RIDGE (Aus)
ROTHBURY (USA
SOUTHBOUND (Aus)
SUNRISE (England)
WAVEFORM (England)
WORKHOUSE (Wales)

Relive your Big Tent 2009 memories – and if you weren’t there, find out what it was all about. Exciting plans are well underway for Big Tent 2010! Announcements soon.

Watch our 2009 Films

Get ready for The Wave

On Saturday 5th December 2009, join people from across Scotland to send a clear message about climate change to world leaders meeting in Copenhagen for the UN climate change negotiations. It is anticipated that this will be the largest ever demonstration in support of action on climate change in Scotland.

The Wave will be a fun, family-friendly march in Glasgow city centre, where a diverse range of people can come together to show their concern about climate change. Similar demonstrations will be taking place across the world at this time. In order to demonstrate that this issue is important to Scotland, we need as many people as possible to turn out on the streets of Glasgow on 5th December.

The time, start point, transport details etc will be confirmed nearer the time so look out for more information at www.the-wave.org.uk/scotland/

We are delighted that Big Tent has been chosen to be a Flagship Event in Fife’s Year of Culture 2010. Speaking at the launch of the Year of Culture yesterday, Councillor Brian Goodall, Chair of the Housing and Communities Committee said: “There’s something for everyone in this, ever growing 2010 programme and a lot of these events will be free. As well as the Arts, sport features prominently, and the year also recognises how important local community events, creative projects, festivals and galas are to the people of Fife and our visitors.

The Big Tent organisers are working away at making 2010 a very special event because not only is it the Year of Culture but it’s the Big Tent’s fifth birthday. If you want to keep up to date with the programme then sign up for regular newsletters to info@centreforstewardship.org.uk

Your ideas helped form Big Tent 2009 so we’re asking for your help again. What issues would you like to hear about, what exhibitions would you want to see, what music would you like to listen to, what would you like to eat?
We are open to your suggestions and welcome any feedback you have on how we can make the festival a great experience.
Look forward to hearing from you!
The Big Tent Team