The first Edinburgh festival of 2016, Scot:Lands, has unveiled the line-up for its third annual event, taking place in hidden and rarely-accessible venues in the city’s Old Town. The free multi-arts festival will be held on January 1 as part of the Edinburgh's Hogmanay celebrations, and will feature music, film, dance and spoken word events along with a new part of the programme aimed at families and children (ie those more likely not to be ravaged by hangover on January 1).
Taking place over 11 ‘lands’ in different venues, audiences first visit the ‘Departure Lounge’ at University of Edinburgh’s Old College quad to spin a compass then head off to discover their first destination. Visitors are encouraged to explore the lands at their own pace and all the events have been set up so you can come and go as you please.
The events on offer at Scot:Lands 2016 include:
Blue Skye:Land
A variety of musical and performance pieces including the UK premiere of a collaboration between beatboxer Jason Singh and Gaelic vocalist Anne Martin.
Cine:Land
Marking 70 years of the Edinburgh International Film Festival, a range of award-wining short films will be shown in a variety of mini-cinemas to celebrate Scotland on film.
Coorie-In:Land
An event curated by literary duo Rally & Broad which promises a mix of ‘lyrical delight and artsy mischief’.
Insider:Land
Aviemore’s Insider Festival will recreate the essence of an outdoor festival indoors, with food and drink from Inver Restaurant and performances from Admiral Fallow, Blue Rose Code, Findlay Napier and BEAM.
Lyrical:Land
Celebrating Scottish singer/songwriters, this event will include intimate performances from Kathryn Joseph, Mercury Prize nominatee C Duncan, Idlewild's Roddy Woomble and poet/Neu Reekie co-founder Michael Pedersen amongst others.
WeeScot:Land
Especially for families with children under ten, the event will include a theatre show, arts and crafts, storytelling, music and street performance.
The festival, and the Hogmanay celebrations as a whole, closes with The Final Fling at the National Museum of Scotland, featuring live music from the Portobello Ceilidh Band.
See the full programme.
Scot:Lands, January 1 2016, 1-5pm, free entry, tickets required and available from November 2.
See more Hogmanay events from Time Out Edinburgh.