Funnyman Bruce and his stories of Scotland
and Celtic Colours in Canada.
As well as performing regularly with Inveraray and District Pipe Band, he teaches bagpipes at George Watson’s College and The Glasgow Academy.
The BBC Radio Scotland contest is renowned as one of the biggest platforms for emerging talent in traditional music, encouraging and validating some of the biggest names in the scene, across singing, piping, accordion, fiddle and piano playing.
And it has been a springboard for numerous Scottish traditional music exponents to international acclaim.
This year’s winner will join a list which includes the 2023 winner pianist Amy Laurenson, as well as other past winners including fiddler Eryn Rae, pianist Michael Biggins, piper Ali Levack, fiddler Benedict Morris and singer Hannah Rarity.
BBC Radio Scotland will host and broadcast the event, held in Glasgow’s City Halls with a live audience as part of the Celtic Connections Festival, from 5-8pm, with the performances and winner announcement on BBC ALBA from 5.05-7pm and 7.30-8pm.
Local comedian Bruce Fummey. Pic: Blake Armstrong
Award-winning local favourite Bruce Fummey is set to entertain on the Crieff stage later this month.
The Blackford- based comedian will perform his latest show, ‘ Stories of Scotland’, at Strathearn Arts from 7.30pm on Saturday, February 17.
Audience members at the Comrie Street venue are to be taken on a joke- filled journey touching on everything from the origins of humanity to the ingenuity of Scottish inventors, with stops along the way designed to shine a light on the people who made Scotland what it is today and the inevitable conflicts throughout the years.
Bruce is making his return to Crieff following sell-out dates in Australia, New Zealand and closer to home.
His lengthy CV also includes numerous TV appearances, starring as Hamish in Steven Frear’s 2022 film ‘The Lost King’ – inspired by the incredible discovery of the remains of Richard III in a Leicester car park – and a successful YouTube channel called ‘Scotland History Tours’, which captured the imagination during the Covid-19 lockdown periods.
Bruce said: “It’s incredible the number of opportunities that have come my way because of the pandemic.
“Before lockdown, I was a tour guide during the day and a stand-up comic at night.
“Covid made both jobs unviable, so I started making YouTube videos.
“I had no idea that they would take off the way they have. It has been incredible.
“But, in spite of that unexpected success, the best thing in the world is still doing live stand-up – and giving folk a flavour of the history of the country I love along the way.”
Tickets have been priced at £15, with a booking fee applying online.
For more information, see www. strathearnarts.org or call 01764 655556.
Bruce’s YouTube channel can be viewed by searching for http:// youtube. com/ scotlandhistorytours on the video-sharing platform.