THOSE used to stepping into their finest tartanware, tucking into a bowl of haggis and raising a dram to Robert Burns on his birthday should look no further than the Big Burns Supper at home.
Comedian Jane Godley, a rising Scots social media star throughout the pandemic, is hosting the free online event on Monday, January 25, the national bard’s 262nd birthday.
KT Tunstall, Donovan, Skerryvore and Dougie MacLean will take to the virtual stage alongside a handful of local artists who have recorded special songs for the event.
One of which, the Dumfries-based band LOKA, will premier a new music video to their song ‘The Ploughman’s Sang,’ a tribute to Burns recorded in Dumfries at Burns locations before lockdown, including the Burns Mausoleum and Ellisland Farm.
LOKA’s Lynn Cuddihy, who wrote the song, said: “Although Rab has his faults, I wanted to comment on how differently we view him now. There is something heroic about his story that appeals to us all.”
Ahead of the event, Graham Main, founder of the Big Burns Supper festival which is celebrating its tenth year running, said: “Coming together has never felt so important and that is what Big Burns Supper has always been about. Reaching out to one another in the depths of winter. Making us realise, that we are not alone and sharing our love of music and song together.”
Myra Smith, a volunteer from Dumfries with Big Burns Supper, added: “We encourage people to tell their neighbours and older relatives to tune in and feel the magic of the festival from the comfort of their own homes. Suggest it to them as a way to connect with the community, it’s always really uplifting.”
The Big Burns Supper 2021 will be broadcast from 7 pm – 8.15pm on 25th January 2021 via Facebook and YouTube.
For more information visit www.bigburnssupper.com.
