1. Yeehaw! That legendary cowboy Lobey Dosser is again part of this year’s West End Festival in Glasgow this month. The creation of cartoonist William “Bud” Neill is being brought to life today in a “sweet and tasty” Wild West hoedown featuring the Calton Cowboy, his calamitous deputy Fairy Nuff from Yoker, and Lucky Luke, the French world’s chocolate-loving Western superstar. It can be seen at Dram! in Woodlands Road, Glasgow, This evening festival goers can chill out in the Botanic Gardens as Glasgow Lyric Choir stages a popular programme of song in the Kibble Palace.
2. Over in the east of the country Leith Festival runs until June 16 and includes a new public art initiative. Four humble doors in Maritime Lane and Maritime Street will showcase how new street art on these unloved and unused doorways can entertain, inspire and brighten a small corner of the city for residents, workers and visiting tourists. Other events at the festival include a play based on the adventures of SS Explorer, Scotland’s first custom-built fisheries research vessel, which is moored at Leith. Sea Changes can be seen at Leith Dockers Club from June 12-14.
3. There are festivals galore all over Scotland right now and jazz fans will be flocking to Kirkudbright from June 13-16 for the town’s music celebration. Kirkcudbright Jazz Festival showcases Trad New Orleans, Dixieland and Swing Jazz and organisers are boasting their 22nd edition has a “fabulous” lineup, from best band winners at the 2018 Scottish Jazz Awards to festival fan favourites. Baby Jools & The Jazzaholics, The Big Easy, Cow Cow Boogie, Dave Donohoe Band and the D&G Youth Jazz Orchestra are some of the bands who will be playing.
4. Small but mighty, and returning for its second year, Flying Moon music and arts festival is an indoor celebration of music, arts, crafts, poetry and short-form theatre with vendors selling vegan and cruelty-free products. With the emphasis on art, access and action, the event exists to support Scotland’s women in participating in festivals whether they are headliners or stall holders. The inclusive atmosphere neither discriminates against gender nor genre. It takes place at the Flying Duck, Renfield Street, Glasgow next Saturday.
5. Further north, there is Moray Outdoor Walking Festival, which begins this week and lasts until June 23, with an event on every day covering a variety of activities for all levels of fitness. It begins on Thursday evening with a special appearance from Mike Dilger, the “Wild Man” on BBC1’s One Show who will be sharing highlights from over a hundred different trips in and around Scotland, filming everything from bumblebees to basking sharks. Clips will be shown from some of the best wildlife films he’s made in the area, and he’ll reveal what goes on behind the scenes.
6. A beautiful day amongst Scotland’s scenery is nicely topped off with a wee taste of the national drink and at Edinburgh Whisky Festival on Saturday (15) there will be a chance to sample the best home-grown spirits, as well as whiskies from all corners of the globe. The festival attracts the finest distillers from as far afield as Taiwan, India, Japan and the US and visitors can sign up for the new-look masterclasses featuring the whisky-world’s most renowned experts and offering samples of some rare “under the counter” drams.
7. June also sees the start of the Highland Games season and next Saturday all the traditional attractions are on show at Lesmahagow in Lanarkshire. Held in Lesmahagow for over 50 years, the games include a pipe band competition, Highland dancing and heavy events such as hammer throwing, tossing the caber and throwing the weight. A haggis hurling competition, the children’s football tournament final, a road race, athletics and stalls all add to the fun.
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