Big names for city music festival

Julie Fowlis is a BBC Radio 2 Folk Award winner

BBC Radio 2 Folk Award winner Julie Fowlis and Edinburgh-based Kim Edgar are to star in the capital's annual Celtic music festival.

Ceilidh Culture, which is Edinburgh's answer to Glasgow's Celtic Connections, will also feature Karine Polwart, Kris Drever and Lauren McColl.

The three week festival, which has been running for five years, runs from 21 March to 13 April.

Fife singer Jackie Leven and Mike Heron are also due to star at the event.

We are in for a fantastic festival of music, storytelling and dance and with almost 80 gigs and events taking place in 31 venues right across the city Steve Cardownie Edinburgh City Council

More than 30 venues will host events during the sixth annual festival, which last year attracted about 15,000 people.

They include the Queen's Hall, the Royal Botanic Garden, Cabaret Voltaire and the Bongo Club, as well as community centres, pubs, schools and hotels.

The event also encourages people to dance and make music, from bagpipe lessons and a family ceilidh, to a music workshop focused for people with learning disabilities.

The Fun Fiddle Stramash offers the chance for fiddlers of all levels to just turn up and play.

True 'hotbed'

Steve Cardownie, Edinburgh City Council festival and events champion, said: "We are in for a fantastic festival of music, storytelling and dance and with almost 80 gigs and events taking place in 31 venues right across the city.

"Ceilidh Culture has trebled in size over the past six years and this year's unique and eclectic programme can help us take the festival to the next level with the pulling power to attract thousands of tourists from all over the world."

Festival director Karl Chapman said: "The growth of Ceilidh Culture has made Edinburgh a true hotbed for the traditional arts.

"This year's programme brings together an array of talent from all over the world and promises to be bigger and better than ever before.

"With multi-award winning musicians, storytelling sessions, dancing events and music tutorials and there will be something for everyone."