the Land, the Light, the Locals 2023-24

Hello again from Denholm in the Scottish Borders. After a gap of four long years I am delighted to inform you that our Hogmanay Festival is back with a bang! We started in 1998 and it’s been quite a ride, so we won’t be changing what has become such a successful format.

We kick off on Friday 29th December with our opening concert headlined by IAN BRUCE. A few years back he recorded an album of Will Ogilvie poems he set to music, and he will be including a few of these songs in his set. Beforehand local historian IAN LANDLES will give a short introduction to Ogilvie and his works. Ian Bruce will be joined onstage by partner Kev, ably supported by local musicians IAIN FRASER and DONALD KNOX.

SATURDAY 30th is an all Hawick affair, with the Exchange Bar (Dalton’s) hosting the lunchtime session. In the evening the town’s Burns Club is the setting for HAWICK SINGS, a free concert featuring a wide variety of local talent.

On Sunday 31st the lunchtime session will be held in the Horse and Hound Bonchester Bridge, followed by our showcase event the HOGMANAY CEILIDH in Denholm Village Hall.

We go for a gentle New Year’s Day walk, then gather in Ashkirk Village Hall for our HERDS’ SUPPER, hosted by John NICHOL and HILLARY BELL.

Then on Tuesday 2nd we have our farewell session in the Auld Cross Keys Denholm, finishing off with our survivors’ concert with REAL TIME at the George and Abbotsford Hotel Melrose.

It would be great to see as many people as possible turn out to support our festival after such a long-enforced absence-looking forward to seeing you there!

Kenny Speirs, Festival Director.

*** Download booking form here ***

Images from lots of previous events are still available to view at  http://ianoliverphoto.com/lll/gallery/