The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Botanic festival grows and grows
Midge Ure, Elkie Brooks, Aly Bain and Phil Cunningham and jazz icon Chris Barber are among the top music acts lined up to play this year’s Byre in the Botanics in St Andrews
From opera to street dance and jazz to pop music, this year’s Byre in the Botanics offers a varied season of outdoor performances.
Programmed by the Byre Theatre and set in St Andrews Botanic Gardens, with a fully seated and covered performance area and bar, the 2017 programme has events including concerts from Midge Ure and India Electric Co, Elkie Brooks, Aly Bain and Phil Cunningham, Gallagher and Lyle and jazz legend Chris Barber. There’s also a new production of Puccini’s La Boheme, the Scottish debut of Dutch street dance crew The Ruggeds and a series of ceilidhs.
This year’s festival follows on from its successful debut year and runs every Thursday to Saturday from June 29- July 29.
Liam Sinclair, the Byre’s artistic director, says this year’s festival promises some “hidden gems”, as well as big names.
“It’s amazing to have the likes of Midge Ure and the Elkie Brooks concert has already sold out,” he says.
“But there are also some hidden gems, such as The Ruggeds, a street dance crew who’ve appeared in Justin Bieber and Rita Ora videos.
“The idea of the venture is to create a summer season that has something for everybody and to tap into both resident and tourist audiences.”
Last year’s festival drew just under 5,000 people, says Liam, and he hopes this year will attract even higher numbers.
If it rains, visitors will be well protected, as the venue is under cover.
“The Scottish weather can be very varied so one of the things we’ve tried to build on is how weather-proof we’ve made the site,” says Liam.
“The marquee is very translucent so you still get a sense of being outdoors, even though you’re under cover. If it rains, you’ll be comfortable.”
Midge Ure performs on July 22 while “Queen of British Blues” Elkie Brooks is on July 15.
Aly Bain and Phil Cunningham’s show is on June 29, while Chris Barber performs with his big band on July 27.
There will also be a rare live set from songwriting legends Gallagher and Lyle on July 29.
Making a welcome return are favourites from last year, The New Orleans Swamp Donkeys, who will bring their Louisiana party sounds to St Andrews on July 20. Other live music highlights will include The Glenn Miller Orchestra UK led by Ray McVay on July 8 and dynamic Celtic beats from Manran on July 7.
This year’s event will host the only Scottish performances of OperaUpClose’s Olivier Award-winning production of the classic romantic piece La Boheme on July 13 and 14, with a new English language translation.
The two Grand St Andrews Ceilidhs will get going on July 6 and 28, with a live band led by broadcaster and musician Billy Anderson.
The Byre In The Botanics big screen will show family movies including Frozen, The Secret Life of Pets and Up, with activities before films ranging from Gruffalo Trails around the gardens to plant potting workshops.
Fife street food company Screaming Peacock will fire up the on-site barbecue to serve local wild venison burgers .
The marquee is very translucent so you still get a sense of being outdoors, even though you’re under cover