The final weekend of InvernessFest sees more first class entertainment scheduled for visitors and locals alike with the European Pipe Band Championships on Saturday (28 July) sure to be a crowd pleaser.

 The Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association’s 2007 European Pipe Band Championships will be held at the Bught Park Arena with competitions for the 130 plus bands beginning at 9.30am.  Don’t miss the spectacular finale to the event, the Grand Parade at 5.30pm, which sees the biggest massed band ever assembled in the Highlands featuring over 4500 bandsmen.

 Minister for Europe, External Affairs and Culture Linda Fabiani will attend the European Pipe Band Championships on Saturday. Ms Fabiani said: “I am delighted to be attending the European Pipe Band Championships this weekend to hear the individual band entries and to watch and listen to the stirring massed band in the Grand Parade – wonderful!”

 “The InvernessFest celebrations have been a key part of the Highland 2007 programme offering a wide variety of traditional and contemporary cultural events that have been enjoyed by so many people.”

 Salm and Soul at St Andrews Cathedral is another highlight this weekend.  On Friday evening (27 July) the Lewis Gaelic Psalm Singers and the London Adventist Chorale perform in a joint concert of Gaelic Psalms and American Gospel music.

 Friday lunchtime also sees a free guitar concert by Peter Griggs in Inverness Town House.

 And this is the final weekend of InvernessFest Fringe events.  Look out for Fergie Macdonald’s Button Box Extravaganza, a Celtic and Bluegrass workshop and performance, Fred MacAulay at the Ironworks, a spectacular aerial performance in Bellfield Park, Arts In Motion’s ‘A series of Fortunate Events’ and 'Murdina Morag', the musical.

 Visit the Highland 2007 website for more information and the full InvernessFest programme - www.highland2007.com  

 Ends

 Please contact Julie Corbett or Alison Bell at Highland 2007 for more information - 01463 702007or 07766 028899 / 07733 123037

 Editor’s notes

 InvernessFest is a two week long celebration of traditional and contemporary culture in Inverness taking place between 15 and 29 July. It will blend the most popular aspects of Highland traditions and heritage with events that reflect the modern face of the city of Inverness and its cultural diversity. The main festival programme will be enhanced by a range of Fringe events in venues throughout the city. InvernessFest will include:
14 - 21 July - CITYJAM Music Festival
15 July – Sir Elton John and his Band in concert at Tulloch Caledonian Stadium
15 – 29 July – InvernessFest Fringe
17, 26 and 27 July – Three concerts in Inverness Town House
19 – 23 July - InvernessFest Club in Falcon Square
21 & 22 July – Tulloch Inverness Highland Games featuring the World Highland Games Championships at Bught Park
25 - 28 July – RBS Inverness Highland Tattoo at Fort George
27 July – Salm & Soul
28 July – European Pipe Band Championships at Bught Park
28 July - Summer in the City Youth Festival
 

The fun doesn’t stop in Inverness – lots of other events are taking place across the Highlands and Islands in July such as The Skye Festival / Feis an Eilein, Highland Games and many others.  The Skye Festival / Fèis an Eilein (13 – 27 July) is Scotland’s biggest small festival.  Over the course of two weeks around 90 events will take place throughout the Isle of Skye and surrounding area.  The festival incorporates traditional music, jazz, theatre, film, walks, workshops and the book festival Aos Dana. For more information and ticket details call 01471 844207 or visit www.skyefestival.com – some tickets also available through the Booth www.thebooth.co.uk.
 

Highland 2007, the year Scotland celebrates Highland culture, aims to promote the Highlands as a great place to live and to visit through showcasing the unique and special nature of Highland culture past, present and future. The project is a partnership between three principal funding agencies: The Highland Council, the Scottish Executive, and Highlands and Islands Enterprise. See www.highland2007.com for full details.
 

Highland 2007 commercial partners include:
LifeScan Scotland Ltd - Principal Partner
Tulloch Homes Ltd / BBC Scotland / Scottish Co-op - Major Partners
Royal Bank of Scotland/ Clydesdale Bank / Morrison Construction / Bidwells -  Event Partners
Caledonian MacBrayne / First ScotRail / Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd / Macdonald Aviemore Highland Resort / Macrae & Dick – In-kind Partners
Fionnar Springs / NBH Holdings / PPD Ltd / EAE Distribution / Inver House Distillers - Suppliers