Last chance to get early bird tickets.

There are just a few days left to buy your tickets at our lowest rate. Get your tickets before the end of February and you will save money – and help out our cashflow.  Need more persuasion? Take a look at some of the highlights already conformed for our line-up.

LINE-UP – listen, learn, create, watch, join-in, debate, play.

If variety is the spice of life, then SOLAS 2010 is red hot! We want to reflect the diversity of the Arts in Scotland with a programme that welcomes all ages and caters to all tastes.
We think there is something in here for everyone and there’s much more to come…

So keep checking our website regularly for updates!

MUSIC
Our eclectic music programme celebrates the Scottish music scene in the context of a world stage – here are just some of the artists we’ve already booked :

Steeped in the rich tradition of Americana, MCINTOSH ROSS have blended the sounds of Caledonia and California – you may be familiar with their work in Deacon Blue, but this is the First Couple of Scottish pop as you’ve never seen them before

Scotland’s favourite festival band PEATBOG FAERIES have taken their unique brand of Celtic fusion all over the world

Irish songstress JULIET TURNER revisits the intimacy of her early sound with acoustic guitar and narrative story-telling

BIG GROOVE SAMBA DRUMMING will be there to get you dancing

TALKS
Immerse yourself in issues of faith, justice, politics and climate change with our programme full of talks and debates. We’ve invited some of the most engaging speakers, writers and activists we could find, inside and outside of Scotland :

One of the most controversial religious figures in the U.K, writer, broadcaster and Chair of the Scottish Arts Council – RICHARD HOLLOWAY

Described as one of ‘Scotland’s top 100 thinkers and opinion formers’, (the Scotsman), one of the county’s ‘brightest and best’, (the Sunday Herald), and ‘Scotland’s most influential Muslim’, (the Sunday Times), – OSAMA SAEED

A fiery and lyrical commentator on faith and culture in Scotland – poet, preacher, and campaigner for justice, and currently Director of Christian Aid Scotland – KATHY GALLOWAY

Labour MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire, and Secretary of State for International Development – DOUGLAS ALEXANDER MP

Independent scholar, activist, speaker, writer and broadcaster – ALASTAIR MCINTOSH

PERFORMING AND VISUAL ARTS
Participation will be at the heart of our performing and visual arts programme, so you can join in with a whole host of workshops and creative opportunities. We’ve also got some exceptional performances and a whole mini-festival for film buffs to get their teeth into :

Award winning novelist and film-maker BERNARD MACLAVERTY

Star of Sweet Sixteen and Red Road – MARTIN COMPSTON

Presenting a traditional puppet show of the Ramayana with live Indonesian music – MAGS SMITH

GIFT AMU LOGOTSE AND HIS AFRICAN ADVENTURE – just one exciting event amongst our extensive programme of all-age multi-cultural story-telling

CHILDREN”S PROGRAMME
We’ve selected entertainers who really know children – and their parents. There’ll be plenty of fun activities for families to enjoy together :

With their unique blend of top quality music, entertainment and emotional and spiritual sensitivity… – FISCHY MUSIC

Live and Loopy for 2-6 year old’s – STICKY KIDS SINGALONG with Molly Muddle

Presenting their new summer show – Brand New Andrew and Fair Trade Fred – HOPSCOTCH THEATRE CO

In addition to these (and many more) child-friendly performances, you will be able to book your child into ONE supervised session per day at the festival. Sessions will be limited and places will be allocated on a first-come-first-served basis. You can pre-register your child by following the instructions on the website as soon as you have booked your tickets – another great reason to get them early!

YOUNG PEOPLE’S PROGRAMME
For those that are too cool for school (but still have to go!), there will be instructor-led activities and a safe, creative space where you can shake off your parents for a bit and and make some new friends :

THE RESOLUTION PROJECT – video animation workshops and short film-making for 11-18 year old’s

MEGAMIX – with youth leader-led outdoor activities including den-making, Bogie construction, Tipi building, rocket launching, extreme Frisbee and circus skills

GET INVOLVED – VOLUNTEER
We hope that everyone who comes will be an active participant in the life of the festival and there will be plenty of opportunities to join in. We are also looking for volunteers and contributors -

click here to visit the page on the website for more information on the many ways you can get involved.

SUPPORT SOLAS _ BECOME A SOLAS SAINT
Please consider giving Solas your financial support by becoming a “SOLAS SAINT”. Our goal is to get 100 people to pledge a minimum of £5 a month. If we can meet or exceed this target within the next few weeks, it will give added strength and stability to festival planning and programming. An early pledge of at least £5 a month (Gift Aid will boost its’ value), will help SOLAS (Gaelic for light), to shine…

click here to visit the Solas Saint webpage

So, be a shining example – become a SOLAS SAINT today!