"The first concert in the quadrangle of Marischal College since its refurbishment will be held on Saturday 27 July as part of Aberdeen's Tartan Day celebrations.
The free Concert in the Quad will feature the best in Scottish traditional music and culture interspersed with international performers from Europe and Canada from 12.40pm until 3.40pm.
The fun kicks off at 9am when Aberdeen Country Fair opens on Belmont Street and the festivities continue almost non-stop throughout the day.
Thousands are expected to line Union Street to see the Tartan Day Parade which starts at 11am from Albyn Place. Led by the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association there will be massed pipe bands, followed by re-enactment group Crann Tara, members of the Wallace 700 with hundreds of Aberdeen International Youth Festival performers adding to the carnival atmosphere.
The Lord Provost of Aberdeen George Adam will be joined by special guest Craig Brown, the former manager of Aberdeen Football Club and well-known River City actors Frank Gallaghar (Lenny Murdoch) and Billy McElhaney (Jimmy Mullen) and popular local radio DJ John McRuvie from Original 106FM on a tour of some of the events during the course of the day.
Tartan Day will also see the world-premiere of "Aberdeen's Forgotten Diva" based on the life of Aberdeen's international opera star Mary Garden, written by well-known playwright Mike Gibb with music by Mairi Paton. The lead role will be performed by Michelle Bruce a relative of Ms Garden. Admission is free for the performances which will be held at 2pm, 3pm and 4pm in the Drum Aisle of the Kirk of St Nicholas, Union Street.
The Lord Provost said: "Aberdeen's Tartan Day has always been very popular so I am sure the crowds will be out on Saturday to see the parade and enjoy the huge selection of events and activities on offer that are free for citizens and visitors to the city alike."
This year's Tartan Day will see the return of experts from Aberdeen and North East Scotland Ancestral Tourism Partnership who will be on hand to help people kick start their family history research at a drop-in event from 11am until 4pm in the foyer of Marischal College.
As part of Aberdeen's Granite Festival and Tartan Day celebrations there will be free demonstrations and examples of granite, carving and processes from 11am until 4pm at the Kirk of St Nicholas. Join artist in residence Sean Lynch alongside members of the Scottish Sculpture Workshop, Fyfe Glenrock, A&J Robertson (Granite) and Historic Scotland at the final event of this year's Granite Festival.
Another popular event will be the free exciting and dramatic re-enactment of the trial of 17th century cut purse and cut throat Harry Domingo Moir at the Tolbooth Museum on Castle Street at 12noon, 1pm, 2pm and 3pm.
At 12.15pm Wallace 700, a non-political charitable organisation, which aims to promote the memory and values of William Wallace and his relevance to the heritage, culture and history of Scotland, will hold a commemorative ceremony at the city's Wallace Monument on Rosemount Viaduct. Following a reading of the Declaration of Arbroath the Lord Provost of Aberdeen and Lord Aberdeen will lay wreaths at the monument. There will also be Scots songs and recitals before the beating retreat by the Kintore Pipe Band at 1.30pm.
Toe-tapping traditional Scottish traditional music will be performed by Aberdeen Strathspey & Reel, Rubislaw Pipe Band and Inverurie Pipe Band in the courtyard of The Academy, Schoolhill from 11am until 4pm.
Aberdeen International Youth Festival will bring a jam-packed schedule of free performances including drumming, traditional music, song, cultural dance and street theatre to various locations in the city centre from 1pm until 4pm including Union Terrace Gardens, Duthie Park, the Bon Accord Centre and the St Nicholas Centre.
Re-enactment group Crann Tara will offer visitors to Union Terrace Gardens the chance to see rallying clansmen and their families from 1pm until 4pm.
Scottish Culture and Traditions [SC&T] which aims to promote Scottish traditional culture and heritage as well as roaming performers including the Happy German Pipers will be at various city centre venues throughout the afternoon."
http://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/CouncilNews/ci_cns/pr_tartanday_250713.asp
Aberdeen’s Tartan Day to showcase performers from home and abroad
www.aberdeencity.gov.ukAberdeen’s Tartan Day to showcase performers from home and abroad